Goodbye Vision Zero Task Force. What’s Next for Street Safety?

Feb 29

As traffic fatalities persist at alarming rates, San Jose is dissolving a comprehensive task force previously deemed essential for safer streets. Established in 2020 amidst the pandemic, the task force aimed to enhance road safety and reduce traffic-related incidents. However, after less than four years, news of its upcoming dissolutions begs questions regarding its effectiveness, impact, successes, failures, and the characteristics of an ideal task force. Consensus exists that the Vision Zero task force, named for its aim of zero fatalities on major roads, became entangled in procedural matters with minimal tangible outcomes to show for its efforts.

This development sparks inquiries into whether the new body taking on Vision Zero, the city Transportation and Environment Committee (T&E), will prove more efficient, given that the committee handles a diverse array of unrelated tasks, and the resulting potential for diminished focus.

Implications for Other Cities

San Jose's decision to terminate its Vision Zero Task Force sends a disheartening message to neighboring cities. It implies a lack of commitment to road safety, and the prioritization of other municipal agendas over public safety. As a trendsetter in the region, San Jose's actions may embolden other cities to deprioritize their own road safety initiatives, leading to potential setbacks in the collective efforts to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries. The discontinuation of the task force may also signal a failure in collaboration and coordination among municipalities, hindering the progress of regional road safety initiatives.

Assessment of the Vision Zero Task Force

It is essential to evaluate the task force's performance, identify successful strategies, and analyze areas of failure to inform future road safety initiatives effectively. Without tangible results or significant improvements in road safety metrics, questions arise regarding the task force's accomplishments. Currently no data has been shared on whether the number of crashes have been reduced on the completed corridors to show whether this strategy is successful. By learning from past successes and failures, municipalities can strive towards the common goal of creating safer streets for all road users.

The Implications of San Jose Discontinuing Its Vision Zero Task Force

City officials assert their continued dedication to Vision Zero objectives and say they aim to enhance effectiveness by integrating Vision Zero initiatives into a larger and more impactful entity.

The Transportation and Environment Committee meets to discuss a variety of topics. This year’s T&E work plans shows the following: Integrated Solid Waste Programs, Climate Smart San José Plan, Community Forest Management Plan and Urban Forestry, Shoreline Levee and Sea Level Rise, and the BART Silicon Valley Extension. While these may all be worthy topics within their own right, sadly the work plan only shows Vision Zero being discussed once, on May 6, 2024, among many other topics such as Shoreline Levee and Sea Level Rise Status Report and the BART Silicon Valley Extension Status Report. The T&E work plan appears bogged down with one status report after the next.

It is mind boggling that San Jose, a city facing an uphill trend of fatalities, is acting to make Vision Zero one of the MANY things that the T&E committee will address, as opposed to the ONLY thing the Vision Zero Task Force addressed. The Vision Zero presentations by the Vision Zero Team to the T&E have been in place for the last two years without any reports of T&E successes or accomplishments in advancing Vision Zero. An explanation has not been provided as to how the T&E committee will be able to provide more tangible results than a task force whose sole objective is to focus on Vision Zero.

Let’s learn from our neighbor: How has Fremont Dropped Their Traffic Fatality Rates

Observations from other communities such as New York and Fremont suggest that a concentrated endeavor is necessary.

While traffic fatalities continue to rise nationwide, Fremont has drastically reduced its crash rates in the five years since it launched its Vision Zero projects.

Since adopting its Vision Zero program, Fremont has achieved significant recognition for reducing major traffic crashes. Despite the increase in major traffic crashes in 2021 and 2022, the City crash rates continue to remain below pre-Vision Zero levels and are significantly below the national or state rates. Fremont’s traffic fatality rate (number of fatalities per 100,000 population) was 3.0 in 2022, while San Jose’s was more than double that. The national fatality rate was 12.9 in 2021. California’s traffic fatality rate was 10.9 in 2021. National and California fatality rates are not yet available for 2022.

Sources: National and State data source from NHTSA National Center

Fremont’s success came from making extensive use of inexpensive, temporary, 'quick-build' projects to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users alike in a relatively short period of time. The department also restriped 47% of the city’s arterial roadways, built protected intersections, upgraded dozens of crosswalks with short-term, reduced speeds in more than 50 street segments, converted its streetlights to use 'white' LED lights for better visibility, and decreased the number of lanes in several roadways to reduce speeds and enhance safety for all users.

Fun Fact: the City of Fremont never had a Vision Zero task force because Vision Zero and safety were already integrated into all of their departments so much so that there was never a need to replicate it. What the City of Fremont has implemented is a Mobility Commission, which meets at least quarterly. The commission is composed of members from the community to serve as bicycle, pedestrian, driver, transit and mobility impairments representatives.

The Mobility Commission has the following responsibilities:

Assist the city with the implementation of actions included in adopted transportation plans, including the Mobility Action Plan and other plans related to traffic safety, traffic congestion management, school access, walking, bicycling, new technologies, and regional transportation.
Help advocate for Fremont’s interests with regional agencies, including support for transportation funding.
Assist the city with public education, outreach, promotional activities in order to stimulate community participation in efforts such as safe routes to schools, traffic safety education, and use of alternative transportation modes.
To provide input on the preparation of new and updated transportation policies, plans, and projects.
To provide a forum to receive public comment on mobility topics.

Those That Don't Learn From Their Mistakes are Doomed to Repeat Them

Whether the task force remains or another body takes over, it is important that best practices be implemented and adhered to. Leadership must commit to the cause, even when progress is slower than desired. Advancing Vision Zero may not be quick nor easy. It requires an investment in systemic, long-term change. New York, the first American city to undertake an ambitious Vision Zero safety program, is entering its 10th year of Vision Zero, and has had over 315 meetings to-date with measurable progress to show. Additionally, whereas the San Jose Task Force meets three times per year, the New York Task Force meets every other week to review upcoming and ongoing projects, study progress on key measures, and share agency updates

Characteristics of an Ideal Vision Zero Task Force or Any Body that Commits to Vision Zero

An ideal Vision Zero Task Force should possess several key characteristics to maximize its effectiveness. First, it should prioritize collaboration and engagement with community stakeholders, including residents, advocacy groups, and transportation agencies. Transparency and accountability are crucial elements to foster trust and ensure meaningful progress. The task force should adopt evidence-based strategies and implement data-driven solutions to target high-risk areas and vulnerable road users effectively. Furthermore, continuous evaluation and adaptation of strategies based on real-time feedback and evaluation are essential to address evolving road safety challenges.

Recommendations:

Ensure that the body has the power to make the changes/impact that it is tasked to achieve.
Ensure that all participants(staff, advocates and city council) attend meetings of the nation-wide Vision Zero Network, a respected non-profit founded to advance Vision Zero in communities across the U.S.
Consider adapting the city of Fremont's Mobility Committee model which address Vision Zero implementation and is composed of community members who advocate on behalf of people including pedestrians, bicyclists, and people with disabilities.. (Source: City of Fremont, Vision Zero Network)
Meet regularly and often (Source: Vision Zero Network, City of New York)