Resolution 15605CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. 15605
ESTABLISHING A VISION ZERO POLICY TO WORK TOWARDS
ZERO TRAFFIC DEATHS AND SEVERE INJURIES
WHEREAS, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, each year approximately 40,000 people are killed in traffic collisions in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, in a study comparing 19 peer nations, the Center for Disease Control
and Prevention found that the United States has the highest traffic death rate per person;
and
WHEREAS, from 2011 to 2018, 16 people died and 82 suffered severe, life-
changing injuries on City of Alameda's (City) streets, an average of 2 deaths and 10
severe injuries per year; and
WHEREAS, of the people who died in traffic crashes in the City during this period,
two thirds were walking or riding a bicycle; and
WHEREAS, 75% of the pedestrians who died in crashes from 2011-2018 in the
City were 65 years old or older, and all were 59 years old or older; and
WHEREAS, one death on City streets is one too many, and City and departmental
leadership are dedicated to strategies that aim to reduce and eliminate deaths and
serious injuries on City streets; and
WHEREAS, seniors, children, people of color, people with disabilities, people in
low-income communities, people walking, and people bicycling face a disproportionate
risk of traffic injuries and fatalities; and
WHEREAS, Vision Zero is a public health-based traffic safety strategy to reduce
and eventually eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries using a data-driven, multi-
disciplinary, and safe systems approach that also increases safe, healthy, equitable
mobility for all; and
WHEREAS, Vision Zero recognizes that while human error will always occur, a
combination of engineering, education, and enforcement measures can reduce collisions
and can prevent collisions from causing death or severe injuries; and
WHEREAS, the City's 2017 Safety & Noise Element of the General Plan requires
that the City "prioritize public safety through the implementation of a Vision Zero policy;"
and
WHEREAS, increasing real and perceived safety for people walking and bicycling
is a key step in enabling more people to choose these clean air modes of transportation
that will support the City's 2019 Climate Action and Resiliency Plan goals; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration has made a commitment to
eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on the nation's roadways using a data-driven,
interdisciplinary approach modeled after Vision Zero; and
WHEREAS, the State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has adopted the
goal of moving "toward zero deaths" with a focus on using proven effective strategies and
countermeasures.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City declares that Vision Zero is
the citywide guiding principle for transportation planning, the design of streets and
sidewalks, and the maintenance of the public rights of way; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City shall plan and design its transportation
system with the overriding goal of eliminating fatalities and serious injuries among all
system users; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council directs the Transportation
Commission and the City staff to consider safety as the highest priority when balancing
competing needs and demands for space within the public right of way; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council directs the Planning, Building,
and Transportation Department and Public Works Department to immediately evaluate
and recommend modifications to existing standards and policies for auto travel lane
widths; street width for fire access; bike lane and buffer design; crosswalk design; and
rapid installation bulb-outs and other pedestrian safety facilities, with the goal of improving
roadway safety for all users; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City shall convene an inter-departmental
Vision Zero Task Force, to include staff from Planning, Building, and Transportation;
Police; Public Works; and Fire; and which will be used to establish a shared
understanding of the Vision Zero approach and integrate Vision Zero into all aspects of
transportation planning, engineering, enforcement, and education; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that City staff shall develop a Vision Zero Action
Plan that summarizes specific changes to policies, standards, enforcement procedures,
education efforts, infrastructure improvements, and other action items to be taken by City
departments and that will reduce speeding, reduce collisions, and move the City towards
zero fatalities and serious injuries; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Vision Zero will be implemented in an equitable
manner, accounting for historic inequities in transportation and safety investments across
the Alameda community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City accepts the National Association of
City Transportation Officials (NACTO) guides as nationally-accepted best design
practices and will reference, and use as applicable, these guides in the design of all
transportation projects; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that City staff shall develop an annual report on
progress toward the Vision Zero goals, tracking process and outcome metrics, to be
defined in the Vision Zero Action Plan, and shall present this report each year to the City
Transportation Commission and Council.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and
regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in regular meeting
assembled on the 5th day of November, 2019, by the following vote to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers Daysog, Knox White, Oddie, Vella and
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft — 5.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official
seal of said City this 6th day of November, 2019.
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Yibin Shen, City Attorney
City of Alameda