Houston Mayor Signs Vision Zero Executive Order

From the City of Houston:

Mayor Turner Signs Vision Zero Executive Order to Eliminate Traffic Fatalities and Injuries

August 13, 2019 -- Joined by mobility partners, disability advocates, law enforcement representatives and first responders, Mayor Sylvester Turner today signed an executive order to adopt Vision Zero Houston, a plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries caused by crashes on Houston roads by the year 2030.

The policy marks a significant step in the city’s evolving mobility strategy and mirrors similar action taken by major cities around the world. Many of the cities have reported steady declines in traffic fatalities and injuries over the last few years after implementing Vision Zero.

“Some will say this goal is unachievable. But I say, “no loss of life is acceptable on our roadways, None, ZERO,” Mayor Turner said. “Together we can create change, together we can make a difference, together we can shift the way we think about mobility and traffic safety, and not only see the Vision, but make it possible.”

The plan will transform how the city designs roads and sidewalks and will prioritize engineering, education, enforcement, equity and evaluation. Mayor Turner noted that the city is already conducting road safety audits to identify and fix some of the most dangerous intersections in Houston, the construction of high comfort bike lanes to provide a safer way to travel by bike, and our new Safer Streets Initiative that will provide a coordinator whose sole job is to make our streets safer.

The mayor will establish an executive committee of leaders from city departments and our partners at the Counties, METRO and TxDOT to develop a Vision Zero Action Plan by this time next year.

“We‘ve convened some of the City’s data experts to consider the types of data needed to define the problem and establish benchmarks and make the changes necessary to make our roads safer for all Houstonians,” said Margaret Wallace- Brown, interim Planning Director. “A key component of the Vision Zero Action Plan will be shared responsibility. Every one of us must work toward zero deaths and serious injuries.”

Key organizations that will work with the city to establish the Vision Zero Action plan today applauded the mayor’s decision to focus on safer streets and engage the community to end traffic deaths and improve quality of life.

"In order to be a strong, vibrant, dynamic community where everyone can be productive and feel safe and secure, we have to stop killing and hurting ourselves on the roadways, bikeways, trail-ways and walkways of our city," said Lex Frieden, professor of biomedical informatics, UTHealth; Board Member, Metro. "All groups, including people with disabilities and older adults, must join Mayor Turner and our community leaders in designing and carrying out a plan reach the goal of Vision Zero."

"BikeHouston thanks the mayor for this direction. As advocates for equity and safer streets for all, we call on the City to engage all departments, transportation agencies, non-government organizations, business representatives, and neighborhood residents to prepare and implement the Vision Zero plan," said ClarkMartinson, BikeHouston executive director. "We also call on the city to prioritize dangerous streets and intersections in the CIP. Being a place with sane traffic that respects the dignity of all will make Houston the place where people will want to live, work and invest."

This press release was produced by the City of Houston. The views expressed here are the author’s own.