Vulnerable Road User Assessment
All States are required to develop a Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment as part of their Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). In 2022, Massachusetts saw a record number of pedestrian fatalities and VRUs accounted for an average of 15 percent of total roadway fatalities and serious injuries from 2018 to 2022. Massachusetts is actively working on programs and strategies to improve safety for VRUs and promote and encourage walking and cycling, as outlined in the VRU Assessment that was published in the Fall of 2023 and is linked in the Documents below.
VRU Bus Stops is one one of the systemic projects being implemented as a result of the VRU Assessment. This multi-year program was created because of the disproportionate VRU fatal and injury crashes near bus stops. The first year focused on crossing safety at high-risk unsignalized locations on MassDOT roads, and approximately 50 crosswalk projects are expected to be constructed in early 2025. Projects for subsequent years are currently in the planning and early design phase, and these will address high-risk municipally-owned bus stop crossings and bus stops at MassDOT-owned signals.
For questions or concerns about the VRU Bus Stop project, please email MassDOTVRUBusStops@dot.state.ma.us.