Vision Zero

The City of Alexandria has adopted Vision Zero with the goal of eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2028. Vision Zero is a multidisciplinary, multi-national traffic safety concept that aims to achieve a transportation system with no deaths and serious injuries.

Page updated on Jul 14, 2020 at 9:30 AM

Vision Zero Logo

What is Vision Zero?

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 20 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. 

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. 

What's New?

Two New Traffic Safety Laws for Virginia Effective July 1, 2020

1. Drivers to STOP for People Crossing: Drivers must stop and remained stopped for a people crossing at any marked and unmarked crosswalk until the person has passed the lane where the driver has stopped. 

  • It is illegal for a driver of any other vehicle to pass the stopped driver in an adjacent lane or behind the stopped driver, to overtake or pass the stopped driver.  

    • People may cross at any clearly marked mid-block crosswalks, marked crosswalks at intersections, and unmarked crosswalks at intersections.  

    • In Alexandria, drivers that fail to stop for a person or people crossing could be subject to fines of up to $500 

    • This law applies on streets with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or below 

    • More information: Virginia Code § 46.2-924                         

    2. Vulnerable User Law: Any driver that causes serious injury to or death of a vulnerable street user due to carelessness or distraction can be charged as a Class 1 Misdemeanor. 

    • In support of this, drivers are no longer allowed to use a bicycle lane to pass another driver or bypass traffic.  

    • Vulnerable users are people in wheelchairs, walking, biking, skating, riding horses or other animals, and those in animal-drawn vehicles, as well as those using electric scooters, electric bikes, and electric boards. 

    • More information: Virginia Code § 46.2-841  
                          

    Year 2 Progress Report

    The second year of Alexandria's Vision Zero initiative has lead to even more safety improvements to our streets. Read about our progress at the link above.

    New Leading Pedestrian Intervals Installed as Part of Vision Zero Initiative

    To increase traffic safety, City of Alexandria staff recently installed 17 new Leading Pedestrian Intervals in high crash intersections or corridors as part of the implementation of the City’s Vision Zero Initiative to eliminate traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2028.

    New "No Turn on Red" Restrictions to Be Installed as Part of Vision Zero Initiative

    In Fall 2018, staff with the City's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services will begin installing new ‘No Turn on Red’ restrictions as part of the implementation of the City’s Vision Zero Initiative to improve safety on our streets.

    City of Alexandria to Reduce Speed Limit on Portion of U.S. Route 1

    As part of the Vision Zero traffic safety initiative, the City of Alexandria will reduce the speed limit on the Richmond Highway portion of U.S. Route 1 (between Slaters Lane and Four Mile Run) from 35 mph to 25 mph, effective Monday, August 20.

    City Council Adopts Vision Zero Action Plan

    On December 16, the Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Vision Zero Action Plan, a guidance document that will help the City achieve its goal of eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2028.

    Vision Zero Action Plan

    VZ Cover 2 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. For more information, visit the Vision Zero Action Plan page.  

    Vision Zero Crash Dashboard

    Alexandria's Vision Zero Crash Dashboard is a way for the community to view the City's crash data and track progress toward zero. The dashboard includes an interactive map that can be used to sort crashes by type,  year and outcome. 


    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.  

    Resources

     
    CITY OF ALEXANDRIA PROGRESS REPORTS
    See the progress made on Alexandria's Vision Zero Implementation at the links below:

    CALENDAR YEAR VISION ZERO YEAR
    2018   Year 1 Progress Report
    2019   Year 2 Progress Report

            

    Vision Zero Background

    To learn more about traffic safety, the history of Vision Zero, and to review Vision Zero Action Plans from other jurisdictions, please review the resources below:

    Contact Information

    Top