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Vision Zero

Vision Zero is a City initiative that is founded on the belief that traffic deaths and severe injuries are unacceptable. In Alexandria, we recognize that deaths and severe injuries are not inevitable “accidents”. They are preventable crashes that can be ended through engineering, enforcement, and education.
Page updated on April 3, 2025 at 11:58 AM

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About Vision Zero

Vision Zero logo image

Vision Zero is Alexandria's plan to eliminate fatal and severe injuries on our streets by 2028.

Vision Zero is a City initiative that is founded on the belief that traffic deaths and severe injuries are unacceptable. In Alexandria, we recognize that deaths and severe injuries are not inevitable “accidents”. They are preventable crashes that can be ended through engineering, enforcement, and education.

The Problem

Over 150 people were killed or severely injured in traffic crashes in Alexandria between 2017 and 2021. These are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

This exacts a deep toll, including deep emotional trauma, healthcare expenses, wage and productivity losses, and significant taxpayer spending on emergency response.

Vision Zero Key Principles

  • Traffic deaths and severe injuries are preventable
  • Human life and health is the highest priority
  • Human beings make mistakes
  • The human body is fragile
  • Success depends on system-level change, not individual behavior

Safe System Approach

A Safe System approach means taking a holistic look at traffic safety. Applying the Safe System approach involves:

  • Anticipating human mistakes
  • Designing and managing our transportation system so that (a) the risk of mistakes is low; and (b) when a mistake leads to a crash, it doesn’t result in fatal or severe injury.

Vision Zero As A Movement

Vision Zero was first adopted in Sweden in 1997 and has since spread around the world. In the United States, Alexandria is one of over 50 Vision Zero communities.

A map of the U.S. showing over 50 Vision Zero communities.
Source: Vision Zero Network

Vision Zero Planning

Cover page of the Vision Zero Action Plan

Vision Zero Action Plan

The Vision Zero Action Plan was adopted by City Council in December 2017.

City Hall with Clock

Vision Zero Resolution

City Council resolution endorsing Vision Zero to achieve zero deaths and serious injuries on Alexandria streets by 2028.

Annual Report and Work Plan

Each year, the City develops an annual report and work plan for the Vision Zero Program. The annual work plan is based on the Complete Streets Five-Year Plan. Click the reports below to learn more.

FY 2024 Annual Report and Work Plan

Learn More

FY 2023 Annual Report

Read the report

2021 Annual Report

Read the report

2020 Annual Report

Read the report

2019 Annual Report

Read the report

2018 Annual Report

Read the report

Projects

Current/Ongoing Projects

West End High-Crash Intersection Audits
Speed Cameras in School Zones
Mount Vernon Avenue North
Duke Street Turn Calming
Corridor Speed Management
Leading Pedestrian Intervals and No Turn on Reds
South Pickett Street Corridor Improvements
Eisenhower Avenue Transportation Study
Holland Lane Corridor Improvements

Visit the Complete Streets webpage for additional projects that improve safety.

Completed Projects

City of Alexandria Pedestrian Lighting Improvements Study
Duke St/Route 1 High-Crash Intersection Audits
King St/Callahan Dr/Russell Rd Intersection Improvements
Neighborhood Slow Zone Pilot

Maps and Data

A map of traffic crashes in the City of Alexandria

Crash Dashboard

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

Access the Vision Zero Crash Dashboard

Map of the City's high-injury network
70% of all fatal or severe crashes from 2016 to 2020 occurred on roughly 10% of the City’s street network.

Citywide Crash Analysis

In 2022, a citywide analysis was completed to assess crash trends over time. 

2022 Citywide Crash Analysis Report

High-Injury Network

A High Injury Network (HIN) is a collection of corridors where high numbers of people have been killed or severely injured in traffic crashes.

Alexandria High Injury Network Map

News and Major Updates

Receive important updates by subscribing to Alexandria eNews.

February 2024: Alexandria Ends 2023 With Zero Traffic Fatalities

The City of Alexandria reached a significant milestone by ending 2023 with zero traffic fatalities. View the press release to learn more.

December 2023: City Proposes No Turn on Red Restrictions and Other Safety Treatments for Duke Street

View the press release for more information.

February 2023: City Receives Federal Grant for High-Crash Intersection Audits

On February 1, the US Department of Transportation announced that the City of Alexandria will be awarded federal grant funding through the new Safe Streets & Roads for All Program. The grant will fund safety audits and conceptual designs to improve safety at seven high-crash intersections in Alexandria. This project supports the City's Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries by targeting safety improvements at intersections with a history of fatal and severe crashes. More information will be available as the grant agreement is developed and the project gets underway.

The map below shows the intersections that are included with this project:

A map showing seven intersections where safety audits and conceptual design will be performed as part of the SS4A grant. The intersections include South Van Dorn Street & South Pickett Street, South Van Dorn Street & Edsall Road, Seminary Road & Mark Center Avenue, Seminary Road & Kenmore Avenue/Library Lane, King Street & Dawes Avenue, King Street & 28th Street, and King Street & Park Center Drive.

December 2022: City of Alexandria Proposes 'No Turn on Red' Safety Restrictions for Intersections along Patrick Street and Henry Street

The City of Alexandria is addressing safety issues by proposing to implement new “no turn on red” (NTOR) restrictions in early 2023 for select streets turning onto Patrick Street and Henry Street. Both streets were identified as high crash corridors in the Vision Zero Action Plan. NTOR strategies have been effective nationwide at reducing crashes, especially ones involving pedestrians.

NTOR changes are proposed for the following streets intersecting with Henry Street:

  • Wythe Street
  • Oronoco Street
  • Princess Street
  • Queen Street

NTOR restrictions are proposed for the following streets intersecting with Patrick Street:

  • Montgomery Street
  • Wythe Street
  • Pendleton Street
  • Oronoco Street
  • Princess Street
  • Cameron Street

NTOR restrictions are a low-cost safety treatment that protects pedestrians by reducing collisions between pedestrians and people turning right at a red light. These are typically coupled with signal treatments known as leading pedestrian intervals, which give pedestrians a head start into the intersection and further enhance safety. NTOR restrictions also increase safety for people driving by reducing potential collisions between through vehicles and turning vehicles, particularly in busy areas where finding a gap in traffic can be difficult.

In 2017, City Council adopted a Vision Zero Policy and Action Plan with the goal of getting to zero fatal and severe crashes by 2028. As part of the Vision Zero Annual Work Plan, the City has committed to implementing no turn on red restrictions on two major corridors with high pedestrian activity. Over a dozen people have been struck and injured while walking on Patrick Street and Henry Street within the Old Town area since 2016.

The public comment period closed on February 6, 2023. The NTOR restrictions will brought to the Traffic & Parking Board for approval at their February 2023 meeting. 

October 2022: City of Alexandria Announces New Speed Limit Reductions on the West End

View the press release for more information.

August 2022: City of Alexandria to Implement Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras in Select School Zones

View the press release for more information.

December 2021: City of Alexandria Reduces Speed Limit on Seminary Road to Support Vision Zero Safety Goals

View the press release for more information.

Additional Resources

Visit the resources below to learn more:

Complete Streets Program

Complete Streets is Alexandria's program to improve mobility, access, safety, and comfort for all roadway users, and is closely linked to Vision Zero.
Learn More

Alexandria Transportation Engineering Division

Transportation Engineering manages a variety of programs, including Smart Mobility, Traffic Calming, Traffic Mitigation, and Traffic Signals.
Learn More

Alexandria Police Department

The APD Traffic Safety Section leads the City’s Traffic Enforcement and Parking Enforcement programs.
Learn More

Vision Zero Network

The Vision Zero Network is a collaborative campaign to help communities reach their goals of Vision Zero.
Learn More

U.S. National Roadway Safety Strategy

US Department of Transportation (USDOT) strategy for reaching Vision Zero.
Learn More
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Alexandria City Hall
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Alexandria, VA 22314

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