On November 8, 2017 the City of Alexandria released its Vision Zero Action Plan for public review and comment. The 58 action items outlined in the Plan layout the City’s concerted strategy to make streets safe for all users and achieve zero traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries by 2028.
We commend the City of Alexandria for the comprehensiveness of the strategies and action items outlined in the Plan. In particular, we are pleased to see specific action items that address reduced delivery times for safe routes to school infrastructure improvements and the development of a pedestrian and bicycle curriculum to be implemented in all ACPS elementary school. However, in the Safe Routes Partnership’s feedback to city staff, we highlighted the need to include specific language in the Action Plan that addresses equity considerations in the prioritization of infrastructure safety improvements and in the disproportionate effect of traffic enforcement efforts on low-income communities and communities of color. Additional feedback included the expansion of the scope of work of City’s Safe Routes to School Coordinator to include engineering related Safe Routes to School activities, as well as to secure funding for the position from city sources.
The comment period on the Action Plan ended on November 26, 2017. The Alexandria Transportation Commission will hold a public hearing on the adoption of the Action Plan on December 6th, with the City Council adopting the final Action Plan on December 16, 2017.
To read more on Alexandria’s Vision Zero efforts, please visit the City’s Vision Zero page.
