A pedestrian is injured every eight minutes and killed every other hour in traffic-related incidents. With more people choosing to walk or bicycle instead of driving, the Vision Zero Network was launched in spring 2015 to promote an approach to transportation design and management that challenges the inevitability of such deaths.
In early 2016, 10 Vision Zero Focus Cities began contributing to this goal by working to develop a model other cities can replicate: Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Los Angeles; New York City; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; Seattle; and Washington, D.C. Each city's team includes representatives from the mayor's office and departments of police, public health, and transportation. The Vision Zero Network facilitates peer-to-peer exchange of ideas and strategies and data sharing and partnered with the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) to support the local transportation leaders.
"Our shared goals to stop traffic deaths are ambitious and urgent," said Seleta Reynolds, Los Angeles DOT general manager and NACTO president. "We'll get there faster by learning from one another.”
The network also launched an Emerging Cities program for communities that've begun the Vision Zero process. They include San Jose, Calif.; San Antonio, Texas; and Eugene; Ore.
“Traffic fatalities and serious injuries aren't normal, unavoidable consequences of modern life," said San Antonio City Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales. "They are the result of public policy that prioritizes mobility over safety.”
The network is partly supported by Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest integrated healthcare system. “These are great examples of engaging diverse stakeholders in the critical work of ensuring healthy environments for all community members,” said Tyler Norris, Vice President, Total Health Partnerships.
