Pedestrians and cyclists are considered vulnerable on roadways, and the Michigan Department of Transportation is working on conducting an assessment on the subject to see how to make things safer. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

ESCANABA – As part of the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) ongoing mission to improve safety, mobility and accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists — who are considered “vulnerable road users” — the department will host a series of public webinars offering attendees an opportunity to learn more and provide feedback on the state’s Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment (VRUSA) for 2027 to 2028.

Meetings for each of the seven MDOT regions are set for the next three weeks and are all open to the public. Each session will include an overview of the program, with region-specific information. Participants can attend any webinar but may wish to attend the meeting pertaining to their region.

For the Superior Region, which contains the entire Upper Peninsula, a session is scheduled for April 9 from 6 to 7 p.m.

These webinars may be beneficial for interested residents, regional agencies, local governments, transportation organizations and businesses.

Each live webcast presentation will be followed by an opportunity to provide comments.

Attendees who require mobility, visual, hearing, written, or other assistance for effective participation should contact Orlando Curry at 517-241-7462 or CurryO@Michigan.gov, preferably at least five business days prior to the scheduled meeting. Forms are located on the Title VI webpage. Requests made after this timeframe will be evaluated and honored to the extent possible.

As part of its transition to the human-centered Safe System Approach, and in response to federal requirements of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), MDOT completed the state’s first VRUSA in 2023, supporting the Toward Zero Deaths goal of eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on Michigan roadways by 2050.

These virtual meetings will provide an overview of VRU safety trends while inviting community members and stakeholders to share feedback regarding local safety concerns, priorities and potential solutions for pedestrians and bicyclists across Michigan communities. Input gathered will help identify future safety strategies, outreach and transportation initiatives across the state and support development of the assessment for three upcoming years.

In addition to the webinars, public comments and input on the VRUSA can be submitted online via an online comment form, even after the meetings, so long as they are received by April 30.