Transportation planners, pedestrian advocates and government officials will convene next month for a regional pedestrian safety summit.

Organized by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the region’s lead planning agency, the event will cover topics such as safe routes to schools, estimating the number of pedestrian trips, the health benefits of walking, potential funding opportunities and audits on pedestrian safety statistics.

The summit will be held Jan. 29 at the MTC’s headquarters, 101 Eighth St. in Oakland. Residents interested in attending the summit, which lasts from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., can register online at the MTC’s Web site, although space is limited for the event.

A recent study found that pedestrians account for nearly half of the traffic deaths in the Bay Area, a rate that is four times the national average.

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