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Resolution adopting the goal of reducing traffic fatalities and serious injuries in road traffic in the City of Pittsburgh to zero and endorsing the Vision Zero strategy to achieve this goal.
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WHEREAS, traffic crashes are a leading cause of death and serious injury in the world, the United States, and the City; and
WHEREAS, 92 people in the City of Pittsburgh lost their lives to traffic crashes between 2019 and 2022; and,
WHEREAS, loss of life and life-changing injuries due to crashes are unacceptable on Pittsburgh's streets and serious crashes are preventable; and,
WHEREAS, traffic deaths and serious injuries occur disproportionately in low-income communities, communities of color, and communities with low car ownership and disproportionately affect individuals with limited mobility, people with disabilities, and people who are unhoused, children, and the elderly; and,
WHEREAS, Vision Zero provides a framework for reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries to zero, while increasing safe, accessible, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone through a combination of education, engineering, encouragement, evaluation, emergency medical services, and enforcement; and,
WHEREAS, streets and transportation systems have traditionally been designed primarily for maximum vehicular capacity and mobility, rather than providing safe and accessible accommodations for all modes and users; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh recognizes that streets are a key factor in the way people experience the public realm and play a vital role in promoting economic development, public safety, health and quality of life; and,
WHEREAS, making streets safer for all people using all modes of transportation will support and protect people who wish to travel on foot, by bicycle, and by public transit, which supports a healthier, more active lifestyle and reduces environmental pollution; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh in 2017 established a Complete Streets Advisory Group (CSAG) to provide feedback to help align transportation projects with the principles identified in the city’s Complete Street Policy and ensure regular and public reporting on outcomes, and on March 4th 2024, CSAG presented its first biennial report to Pittsburgh City Council and the public at a post-agenda, clarifying the scope and severity of the City’s street safety issues as well as possible paths forward to make our streets safer for all modes and users; and,
WHEREAS, successful implementation of the Vision Zero Action Plan relies on a systemic approach that includes interdepartmental, coordinated initiatives and community support of Vision Zero goals and objectives through community engagement, advocacy, and education; and,
WHEREAS, roadway owners including Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, and PennDOT, and other community partners with a stake in roadway safety including Pittsburgh
Regional Transit, BikePGH, and the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, have committed their support to the development of a Vision Zero Safety Action Plan; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh is joining cities and municipalities across the world in the Vision Zero movement to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The City of Pittsburgh adopts the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on our roadways and endorses the Vision Zero strategy as a comprehensive and holistic approach to achieving this goal, while maintaining constant evaluation of programs and practices.
Section 2. The Council of the City of Pittsburgh authorizes the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) to form an intergovernmental Vision Zero Working Group, comprised of agencies that may be expected to commit resources or take actions toward the objective of Vision Zero, including representatives from the Department of City Planning, Department of Innovation and Performance Management, Department of Public Safety, Department of Public Works, Office of Management and Budget, the Office of the Mayor, and two representatives appointed by City Council.
Section 3. The Vision Zero Working Group shall create a Vision Zero Memorandum to commit City resources to the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in the City of Pittsburgh, while prioritizing the most vulnerable and dependent users of the most dangerous parts of the transportation network, and using the High-Injury Network to guide City decision making in the realm of budget, policy, education programs and other functions.
Section 4. DOMI shall add a Vision Zero component to its biennial Complete Streets report.