The next phase of the project will improve traffic safety in Clark and Washoe counties.

LAS VEGAS – In 2023, 109 pedestrians and 12 cyclists died in roadway crashes in Nevada. To improve and expand transportation safety in Clark and Washoe counties, the UNLV School of Public Health, Nevada Minority Health & Equity Coalition and its members, Nevada’s Office of Traffic Safety, Department of Transportation, Division of Public and Behavioral Health, and Office of Minority Health and Equity are collaborating to improve overall travel infrastructure for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others and develop safer, more equitable communities for walking and cycling.

The UNLV School of Public Health received almost $1.2 million in funding for this project from the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety.

This project aims to improve safety for vulnerable road users – like pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users – particularly in locations identified as unsafe “hot spots” in the 2023 Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment, an effort overseen by the Nevada Department of Transportation. 

In this next phase in 2025, Nevada’s Infrastructure for Healthy Living Project Scoping Tool (PST) will expand and be used to improve transportation safety for vulnerable road users in Clark and Washoe counties and ensure that the PST uses the best available data, tools, evidence, and community input to generate geographically specific recommendations for safer roads. It will also attempt to integrate the PST into future walk audits and planning efforts affecting transportation.

Additional stakeholders and partners from the community will provide input throughout the process.

“Pedestrian and biker safety is a big problem in Nevada. With relevant data and input from our partners, we hope to make streets safer for everyone. This is a perfect example of a public health issue, that, when it’s addressed, will make a big impact on preventing future deaths,” said Courtney Coughenour, an associate professor in the UNLV School of Public Health.

The PST currently utilizes a three-part process to assess traffic needs and recommend improvements. First, it examines existing traffic needs through data on health, crashes, land use features, connectivity, and other factors in Southern Nevada. It then assesses existing infrastructure and suggests potential traffic solutions to heighten user safety and facilitate active modes of transport such as biking and walking. 

The PST was created with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through a grant awarded to the Southern Nevada Health District. The tool’s development was a collaboration between the UNLV School of Public Health, the Southern Nevada Health District, the City of Las Vegas Public Works Department, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, and the Nevada Minority Health & Equity Coalition.

For more information about this project, contact:
Courtney Coughenour: courtney.coughenour@unlv.edu, Office: 702-895-4278
Maxim Gakh: maxim.gakh@unlv.edu, Office: 702-895-5472