NMDOT adopts Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is pleased to announce the adoption of the New Mexico Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. The plan provides concrete action items for the department and its partners to focus on over the next five years to reduce the number of pedestrian-involved serious injuries and fatalities in New Mexico.

The action items include infrastructure improvements, informational campaigns and changes to policies and procedures. The NMDOT will begin implementing the plan immediately to address the critical need for pedestrian safety in our state.

The department developed the plan to address the high rate of pedestrian fatalities in New Mexico. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, in 2019, 6,301 pedestrians were killed in the United States; 83 of those fatalities occurred in New Mexico, the highest per-capita pedestrian fatality rate in the country. Additionally, another 95 pedestrians were seriously injured in our state, according to NMDOT’s crash data.

“We must take action, and the department is committed to making pedestrians safer in New Mexico,” said Transportation Secretary Mike Sandoval. “Comprehensive pedestrian safety isn’t just a governor’s priority, it isn’t just a NMDOT priority — it’s a country, state, county and city priority.”

The project team developed the plan using internal, public, and external stakeholder input, as well as national best practices. Critical feedback was collected from the public and stakeholders through a comprehensive survey, an input map, focus groups, virtual meetings, and many thoughtful revisions to the draft plan. The nearly two-year effort resulted in an informed plan with buy-in from the many partners and stakeholders.

The plan and appendices are available for download at www.walksafenewmexico.com.