Sponsor: United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
El Paso, Texas functions as a critical gateway for North American trade and one of the largest land ports in the United States, processing more than 12 million vehicles and over 7 million pedestrians each year. This scale of cross-border movement fuels economic vitality, but it also places sustained pressure on the region’s transportation system and public safety infrastructure.
Traffic-related harm in El Paso is both severe and persistent. Between 2017 and 2021, roadway crashes resulted in 335 fatalities and 649 serious injuries, placing the metropolitan area among the deadliest in the nation for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers. For a population of 678,815, this equates to roughly 9.9 fatalities and 19.1 serious injuries per 100,000 residents annually. Vulnerable road users bear a disproportionate share of this burden. In 2020, pedestrians accounted for less than 4% of all crashes but 21% of those resulting in death or serious injury. Nearly 70% of severe crashes involved walking or biking.
These patterns expose the difficulty of achieving Vision Zero, the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries. They also reveal clear equity concerns. High-poverty areas account for 37% of serious crashes and nearly three-quarters of the high-injury network for pedestrians and bicyclists, underscoring structural disparities in roadway risk and investment.
This proposal responds directly to these conditions. Using data-driven analysis, it seeks to develop a comprehensive safety action plan that prioritizes vulnerable road users and addresses inequities across neighborhoods. The plan will guide the implementation of targeted, effective, and equitable interventions to reduce serious injuries and fatalities, align local action with Vision Zero principles, and improve safety outcomes for all who travel El Paso’s streets.
Posting date: Mon, 02/09/2026
Award start date: Wed, 10/01/2025
Award end date: Sat, 09/30/2028