Press Release: Tucson Remains Among Nation’s Deadliest Places for People Walking
Dangerous by Design 2026 highlights continued pedestrian safety challenges in Tucson
(Source: Dangerous by Design 2026)
Contact Info:
Vanessa Cascio, Executive Director
Living Streets Alliance
info@livingstreetsalliance.org
Kylie Walzak, Chief of Staff for Council Member Schubert
City of Tucson, Ward 6 Office
Eric Cova, Communications Director
Smart Growth America
Tucson Remains Among Nation’s Deadliest Places for People Walking
Tucson, AZ (June 15, 2026) – Tucson ranks #4 among the most dangerous metro areas in the United States for people walking, according to Dangerous by Design 2026, a new national report released by Smart Growth America.
The report ranks all states and the nation's 101 largest metro areas for pedestrian deaths and finds that more than 80 percent have become more deadly over time. In 2024, the most recent year with complete federal data, 7,080 people were struck and killed while walking nationwide—a 72 percent increase since 2009.
Although Tucson ranked third in the previous edition of Dangerous by Design and fourth this year, the change should not be mistaken for progress. The Tucson region recorded 235 pedestrian deaths between 2020 and 2024, compared to 142 pedestrian deaths between 2015 and 2019—a 66 percent increase between the two reporting periods. Dangerous by Design notes that some communities move down in the rankings not because they became safer, but because other places became even more dangerous.
Living Streets Alliance and City of Tucson’s Ward 6 Office are calling for accelerated investment in proven pedestrian safety improvements, noting that Tucson's continued ranking among the nation's deadliest places for people walking comes despite years of data collection, planning, and public awareness about the issue.
“The release of the 2026 Dangerous by Design report is a sobering reminder that Tucson continues to face a pedestrian safety crisis,” said Council Member Miranda Schubert, Ward 6. “We have no shortage of plans, data, or evidence about what works. The challenge is whether our investments match the scale of the problem.”
“When Tucson ranked among the most dangerous places in the country for people walking two years ago, it was a wake-up call. The fact that we remain near the top of the list today should be a call to action,” said Vanessa Cascio, Executive Director of Living Streets Alliance.
“These deaths are not inevitable. We know where people are being killed and seriously injured, and we know many of the changes that can save lives. When the same streets continue to produce the same tragic outcomes year after year, we have to stop treating these deaths as isolated incidents and recognize them as the result of a transportation system that is failing too many people,” continued Cascio.
“Every person deserves to get to work, school, a bus stop, or home safely. We cannot accept this level of loss as normal.”
Dangerous by Design 2026 finds that pedestrian fatalities remain at historically high levels nationwide despite modest declines in recent years. The report identifies street design—including high vehicle speeds, wide travel lanes, long crossing distances, and limited pedestrian infrastructure—as key factors contributing to pedestrian deaths.
“Dangerous by Design’s rankings are only part of the story,” said Heidi Simon, Director of Thriving Communities at Smart Growth America. “The report finds that pedestrian deaths remain stubbornly high across the U.S. due to decades of transportation decisions that have failed to prioritize the safety of people over vehicle speed. Our leaders must commit to implementing safety improvements that protect people walking, biking, and taking transit.”
“Communities across the country have demonstrated that safer crossings, protected walking and biking infrastructure, shorter crossing distances, improved visibility, and other quick, cost-effective interventions save lives. Tucson does not need to wait years for major capital projects before taking action,” said Council Member Schubert. “We should be urgently deploying proven safety improvements on our highest-risk corridors, measuring the results, and directing more transportation resources toward the places where people are most at risk. Other communities have shown that progress is possible, and there is no reason Tucson cannot do the same.”
The full Dangerous by Design 2026 report is available at smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design.
Source: Dangerous by Design 2026
Source: Dangerous by Design 2026
Living Streets Alliance is a Tucson nonprofit organization working to transform streets into vibrant public places that bring people together and provide safe, accessible, and attractive transportation options. www.livingstreetsalliance.org
City of Tucson Ward 6 serves central Tucson and is committed to creating safer, more connected, and more livable neighborhoods through investments in transportation, public spaces, and community well-being. https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager/City-Council-Wards/Ward-6
Smart Growth America helps create healthy, prosperous, and resilient places to live for all people through research, advocacy, and direct community support. Our work spans housing and land use, transportation, and economic development to find solutions to communities’ most pressing needs. We work with elected officials at all levels, real estate developers, chambers of commerce, transportation and urban planning professionals, and residents to improve everyday life for people across the country through better development.
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