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 Nov 16, 2018 at 4:18 PM

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?


New ‘No Turn on Red’ Restrictions to be installed as part of Vision Zero initiative

Starting late Fall 2018, T&ES staff will install new ‘No Turn on Red’ restrictions as part of the implementation of the City’s Vision Zero Initiative to improve safety on our streets  As part of the Vision Zero Action Plan, City staff analyzed crash data, industry best practices and research, public input, and formed an interdepartmental collaboration team to develop a set of Year 1 Engineering Priorities. These engineering priorities are intended to improve safety for all modes of travel, focusing on increasing safety for vulnerable road users (e.g. people walking and biking, children, and seniors). One of these Year 1 Engineering Priorities is to install ‘No Turn on Red’ restrictions at least 10 intersections to improve safety for people walking and driving. 

Crash data was analyzed for 2011-2016 during the Vision Zero Action Plan process. The data showed that during this time, 445 people walking were involved in crashes with one in seven of these crashes resulting in death or serious injury to the person. Turning-movement crashes were found to be among the most common crash types in Alexandria.

T&ES staff have identified more than 10 intersections for these restrictions and will be implementing a portion of these new restrictions over the coming months. During implementation, T&ES Staff advises residents and visitors to stay alert to the potential new traffic patterns at the following locations:

Primary Street Onto
King Street Henry Street
Gibbon Route 1
King Street Patrick Street
Mill Road Eisenhower Ave
N Jordan Duke Street
N Patrick King Street
N Pickett Duke Street
Prince Street S Henry Street
Prince Street S Patrick
Reading N Beauregard
S Jordan Duke Street
S Quaker Duke Street
S Walker Duke Street
Park Center Dr King Street
S 28th St King Street
Southern Towers Seminary
Cambridge Duke Street
Roth  Duke Street
Metro Road Eisenhower Ave
Route 1 Slaters Lane
Cameron Station Duke Street
Gibbon S Washington
King Street N Washington Street
Queen Street N Henry Street
S Peyton King Street
Edsall Whiting
N Quaker Fern
Whiting Edsall Road

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

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2018

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

National data shows that lowering speed limits from 35 mph to 25 mph dramatically reduces the number and severity of crashes. Between 2015 and 2017, 25 people were hurt in 106 crashes on the portion of U.S. Route 1 where the change will be implemented, including three people that were seriously injured. After recent speed limit reductions on King Street, Seminary Road and Quaker Lane, the average annual number of crashes fell by 53 percent, 40 percent and 33 percent, respectively.

The Vision Zero Action Plan approved by City Council identified speed limit reductions on high-crash corridors as an immediate priority improvement. In addition, City staff regularly analyze safety and accessibility during paving operations and determined that reducing the speed limit on this segment of U.S. Route 1 would also meet the goals of the Complete Streets program.

Traffic crashes kill or seriously injure approximately 37 people per year in Alexandria. As the new school year begins, the City reminds all motorists, cyclists and pedestrians to make safe decisions when using local roads.


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

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:

Action Plans

New York City San Francisco Boston
Seattle Los Angeles Austin
Eugene Cambridge     Bellevue  

Vision Zero Background

Contact Information

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