Vision Zero is about saving lives on Alexandria's streets. 

Vision Zero is a multidisciplinary, multi-national traffic safety concept that aims to achieve a transportation system with no deaths and serious injuries. It began in Sweden in 1997 and has since been adopted by other countries and cities around the world.  The Vision Zero concept proposes that adopting communities recognize that traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable through proper engineering, enforcement, evaluation and education. Thus, when communities adopt Vision Zero programs they are, in effect, rethinking traffic safety and setting programs and aggressive timelines to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.

Vision Zero initiatives have been adopted by over 40 communities in the United States, including the District of Columbia and Montgomery County, Maryland. Vision Zero programs differ among communities in scale and approach but they all share some common elements including aggressive timelines to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries and the use of data-driven approaches to set strategic and measurable goals. 

In April 2016, the City adopted an amendment to the Transportation Master Plan (Pedestrian and Bicycle Chapter) that includes a strategy to evaluate traffic deaths and develop a Vision Zero program that outlines an action plan framework and necessary resources. The goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries in Alexandria also aligns with the City's Strategic Goal of protecting the safety, health and security of its residents, businesses, employees and visitors.   On January 24, 2017, the City of Alexandria adopted the Vision Zero resolution endorsing the concept and instructing the City Manager to develop an action plan for future consideration by Council. On December 16, 2017, City Council adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan. 

Take the Pledge 

Safer streets for Alexandria starts with you. Take the pledge to become a safer driver, bicyclist and pedestrian and help us achieve Vision Zero.

Become a Coalition Partner

Safer streets will take the work of the whole community. Become a Coalition Partner and help us achieve Vision Zero.  The City will work with partners to advance strategies, distribute information and provide periodic updates on the progress toward our goal of Zero. 

City Reducing Speed Limits on the West End

In October 2022, the City Manager approved the following speed limit reductions:

• North Beauregard Street (Entire Length). Reduce the posted speed limit from 35 to 25 MPH, and reduce the school zone speed limits from 25 to 15 MPH.
• West Braddock Road (North Beauregard Street to Quaker Lane). Reduce the posted speed limit from 35 to 25 MPH, and reduce the school zone speed limits from 25 to 15 MPH.
• North Howard Street (Lynn House Driveway to Braddock Road). Reduce the school zone speed limit on North Howard Street from 25 to 15 MPH.
• Seminary Road (Kenmore Avenue to North Pickett Street). Reduce the school zone speed limit from 25 to 15 MPH.
• King Street (Radford Street to Quincy Street). Install a new 15 MPH school zone speed limit. 

This follows a unanimous recommendation by the City's Traffic & Parking Board in September to reduce the posted speed limits noted above. Collectively, there have been over 500 crashes on these corridors since 2015, including over 20 fatal or severe crashes. Over 250 people have been injured in crashes during this time. The likelihood of a person being killed or seriously injured when struck at 35 miles per hour is significantly higher than if that person is struck at 25 miles per hour. or 15 miles per hour. Slower speeds can save lives and support the City's Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes.

The reduced speed limits will be implemented in Fall 2022. The new school zone on King Street near ACHS will be implemented in 2023.

City Advancing New Automated Speed Enforcement Program for School Zones

The City of Alexandria is advancing its efforts to improve traffic safety with the launch of a new automated speed enforcement program that will install speed cameras in select school zones. The Alexandria City Council approved funding for five speed cameras in school zones as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 Approved Budget. The program is expected to launch in early 2023.

To learn more, visit the Speed Camera Program webpage.

Citywide Crash Analysis Report Now Available

The City recently completed an updated citywide crash analysis to identify the latest crash trends in Alexandria. The report materials are provided below:

Crash Data Analysis Report 2022

Report Sections:
Citywide Crash Analysis Memo
Attachment 1: 10-Year Crash Trends
Attachment 2: 5-Year Analysis Findings

High-Injury Network Map, 2016-2022

Fiscal Year 2023 Work Plan Now Available

FY 2023 Vision Zero Work Plan

International Association of Chiefs of Police Celebrates Safety Partnership in Alexandria

Learn more about how the City's Department of Transportation & Environmental Services partners with the Alexandria Police Department and other stakeholders to improve roadway safety for all users.

Speed Limit Reduction on Seminary Road

In December 2021, the City reduced the speed limit on Seminary Road between I-395 and the City Limit from 35 mph to 25 mph. This follows a unanimous recommendation by the City's Traffic & Parking Board in October to reduce the posted speed limit in response to repeated fatal and severe crashes on this section of the corridor. The likelihood of a person being killed or seriously injured when struck at 35 miles per hour is significantly higher than if that person is struck at 25 miles per hour. Slower speeds can save lives and support the City's Vision Zero goal of eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes.

The City released final versions of the Vision Zero Action Plan and the Alexandria Police Department's Traffic Safety Plan in December 2017. The City received nearly 200 comments on the plan and 86% of people who viewed the plan supported it. The development of this plan highlights the City's commitment to providing safe streets for all users and reducing fatalities and severe injuries on the roadways. The Action Plan outlines how the City will achieve Vision Zero by 2028.  The final plan was adopted by City Council on December 16.

Community Engagement Process: More than 1,000 residents, visitors, employees, and business owners were engaged in the Vision Zero Action Plan process. Learn more about how public input informed, and continues to inform both the plan and its implementation. 

Priority Action Items: The Final Vision Zero Action Plan highlights a number of Priority Action Items 

Vision Zero Work Plan: The Vision Zero Work Plan provides a detailed outline of plan implementation milestones . The Work Plan was created to help inform the annual progress reports and provide a framework for implementation and measures of success.  

Vision Zero Progress Reports: 

• Year 1 Progress Report (2018)
• Year 2 Progress Report (2019)
• Year 3 Progress Report (2020)
• Year 4 Progress Report (2021)

Alexandria's Vision Zero Crash Dashboard provides citywide traffic safety data to the public. Please note, this dashboard is for exploration purposes. Data is updated monthly. Data may not appear in the dashboard until two monthly after the crash event while the crash report is finalized. This dashboard includes reportable crashes that occurred in Alexandria and were reported to police - crashes involving injuries, deaths, or at least $1,500 in damages.

Click here to access the Vision Zero Crash Dashboard.