Vision Zero Plan to end traffic fatalities by 2035 moves forward

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WHAT HAPPENED?

At the City-County Council’s Public Works Committee meeting on July 18, the committee voted to approve Vision Zero, a plan that aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injury crashes by 2035. The proposal prioritizes the safety of pedestrians and cyclists and focuses on enhancing road safety through infrastructure improvements, policy changes and community engagement.

“District 14 is home to problematic intersections. Just last week, Kitley and Washington Street joined an unfortunate list of intersections that are simply unsafe for all users,” said Councilor Andy Neilson of District 14. “Should we get the support of the committee and full council on Aug. 12, we’ll acknowledge that that is preventable and it’s unacceptable.”

Board of Public Works Chairman Brandon Herget said Vision Zero recommendations for the city include protected bike lanes, reflective backplates on traffic lights, and road diets, which would convert an existing four-lane undivided roadway to a three-lane roadway consisting of two through lanes and a center two-way left-turn lane.

TAKEAWAY

The proposal was passed by the committee with two exceptions. Councilors Joshua Bain and Brian Mowery did not feel the plan was equitable as there were no plans to make improvement in their southside districts.

“I want to be clear that this is something that I think is a good effort. I don’t disagree by any means. My only heartache with this is that it’s not very equitable for the whole city,” said Mowery.

[Could a ‘Vision Zero’ plan eliminate traffic deaths in Indy?]

The proposal for the implementation of the Vision Zero program will be considered by the full council on Aug. 12.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The next Public Works Committe meeting is 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the City-County Building in Room 260

This brief is adapted from notes taken by Documenters Janna Thomas and Kayla Bledsoe, who covered the July Public Works Committee meeting. Read more about what happened here. Want to join Documenters? Learn more here.