The Purdy Group (Grupo Purdy) is promoting safe mobility in Curridabat and Goicoechea in Costa Rica through strategic partnerships with local governments
Purdy Group, a comprehensive leader in mobility solutions, is strengthening partnerships with the municipalities of Curridabat and Goicoechea to enhance safe mobility in both districts. As a result, at-grade crosswalks were constructed in urban areas with high crash rates, with the goal of ensuring people can reach their destinations safely.
In Curridabat, the project was carried out on a section of Calle 87, between Avenida 44 and 48, where two crosswalks were installed to reduce vehicle speed and allow for safe crossing, especially at points with a high incidence of traffic crashes. In Goicoechea, the partnership enabled the construction of sidewalk-style crosswalks in front of the Filomena Blanco and Pilar Jiménez schools.
These partnerships address the need to protect pedestrians and reduce risks in critical areas. According to the Safe Mobility Study conducted by Purdy Group and the Center for Urban Sustainability, 43 people die each month in Costa Rica due to road crashes.
“As part of our sustainability strategy, we set the goal of addressing high-crash areas in Costa Rica, in partnership with local governments, to create a positive impact aligned with our safe mobility pillar, through which we promote the safe arrival of pedestrians and drivers at their destinations,” said Ana María Sequeira, Director of Corporate Relations and Sustainability at Purdy Group.
Purdy Group is promoting the Safe Way to School program, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Education and the Center for Housing and Construction Research at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (TEC), as part of its commitment to promoting safe mobility. This initiative includes an iRAP assessment to determine the level of road safety in these areas.
Following the construction of the sidewalks, the iRAP assessment will be conducted again to measure the positive impact in the areas where improvements were made.
The project was developed through a public-private partnership with the local government; both parties highlighted the importance of such collaborations in generating positive impacts. Additionally, Purdy Group is coordinating with other local governments to implement improvements in other areas of the country and continue promoting safe mobility.
TEC and iRAP signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March 2024 to promote road safety projects and programmes to eliminate high-risk roads in Costa Rica, with life-saving impacts likely in the wider Central American and Caribbean region.
Article and image credit: Purdy Group