DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements (TCI)
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Pedestrian Safety Plan - Getting to Vision Zero
SUMMARY:
This item will provide a briefing and staff recommendations on creating a Vision Zero Action Plan.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On June 3, 2015, City Council District 5 Councilwoman Gonzales submitted a Council Consideration Request (CCR) requesting TCI create a Vision Zero Action Plan.
Vision Zero is an initiative started in Sweden and has been adopted by several cities around the world and nationally to include Austin, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle. Vision Zero is a traffic safety initiative that aims to achieve a roadway system with zero fatalities. The Vision Zero approach is summarized by the thought that "no loss of life is acceptable." Through Vision Zero, the community shares the responsibility for ensuring the safety of people in our community. The responsibility for roadway safety is shared between those who design the road and those who use the road. The largest cities in the United States to achieve zero fatalities in a one year period after adopting the Vision Zero approach include: Lakewood, Washington; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Provo, Utah; and El Monte, California.
The recent number of pedestrians and bicyclists killed in San Antonio has brought to light the need for renewed efforts. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced Texas as one of the 17 focus states and San Antonio as one of the 35 focus cities due to the high rate of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. In 2014, 54 pedestrians and 1 bicyclist in San Antonio were struck and killed by a motor vehicle. This year, a total of 18 pedestrians and 2 bicyclists have been struck and killed by a motor vehicle (crash data as of July 31, 2015).
Recent efforts by the City have emphasized our commitment...
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