Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Vision Zero

10 Cities Chosen to Help Model Vision Zero Policy in the U.S.

12:41 PM EST on January 27, 2016

The 10 cities chosen will help lead the movement toward Vision Zero in American cities.
Ten "focus cities" will lead the way in developing effective Vision Zero policies.
The 10 cities chosen will help lead the movement toward Vision Zero in American cities.

What is Vision Zero? Simply put, it's a recognition that traffic fatalities are preventable, and a commitment to ensure that no one is killed in traffic. Cities that adopt Vision Zero set out to end traffic deaths within a specific time frame.

In America, a few cities have publicly committed to Vision Zero. So how should policy makers go about achieving this goal? What works and what doesn't? Which places are making real progress, and how are they doing it?

The Vision Zero Network was founded with support from Kaiser Permanente to help ensure that "Vision Zero" promises result in meaningful and effective change.

Yesterday, the network announced 10 "focus cities" that will model Vision Zero strategy in the United States. These cities were chosen for having demonstrated a significant commitment to Vision Zero:

    • Austin
    • Boston
    • Chicago
    • Fort Lauderdale
    • Los Angeles
    • New York City
    • Portland, Oregon
    • San Francisco
    • Seattle
    • Washington

The "focus cities" initiative will bring together transportation, police, and public health officials from those 10 cities, as well as representatives from mayors' offices. This network of public officials will share best practices and develop common strategies for eliminating traffic deaths.

Shahum told Streetsblog she expects work to begin right away. Officials from the 10 cities will participate in monthly phone calls and meet a few times a year in person.

"I do believe we'll be more effective -- and sooner -- if we're learning from each other, elevating what works, and putting our heads together on the stuff that's really the toughest," said Shahum.

Shahum also announced a group of "emerging Vision Zero cities" -- including San Antonio, San Jose, Denver, New Orleans, and Eugene, Oregon -- that can get one-on-one help from the experts at the Vision Zero Network. Shahum said she expects this group to grow a lot as more cities consider or adopt Vision Zero policies.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Wednesday’s Headlines Are Too Fast, Too Furious

When it comes to speeding, why don't regulators and automakers save drivers from themselves?

November 29, 2023

Reader Roundup: What the Demise of the Intercity Bus Station Means for Passengers

Here's just a few of the horror stories we heard from readers who are struggling with the inter-city bus industry's latest push for "curbside" loading.

November 29, 2023

Highway Boondoggles 2023: Is the BQE the Queen of All Boondoggles?

New York City set to squander a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix a polluting and outdated highway.

November 29, 2023

The Price Is Right for Tuesday’s Headlines

If congestion pricing works in New York City, City Lab predicts that other U.S. cities will quickly follow suit.

November 28, 2023

Top NJ Lawmaker Proposes Major Reforms to Fight Temporary License Plate Fraud

The new legislation follows a seven-month Streetsblog investigation that found widespread fraud involving temp tags, with car dealers abusing weak state regulations and selling paper plates illegally to drivers using them to evade accountability on the road.

November 28, 2023
See all posts