The number of traffic accidents causing injuries along a revamped stretch of East Grand Avenue has fallen 58 percent in the 10 months since the project started. 

A pilot project narrowed vehicle traffic to two lanes, added protected bike lanes and made it easier for pedestrians to cross the street.

The city reports that the overall accident rate has dropped 2 percent so far, but the injury rate has dropped from 25 per million vehicle miles traveled to one. 

Data show that over the past decade 88 percent of accidents that involved bicyclists resulted in injuries, as did 67 percent of the accidents with pedestrians involved. Eight percent of the vehicle accidents involved injuries. 

The report also shows that traffic has slowed, with a mean speed of 18 miles per hour this year. The route passes through the popular East Village shopping and entertainment district.

While emergency vehicles have been able to make quicker responses with the new road alignment, the departments are concerned about heading into oncoming traffic and about building access in some cases, the report noted. 

The pilot alone costs $50,000 a year in paint and lane markers. Permanent improvements such as signals and concrete islands cost close to $525,000.