Vision Zero

Zero is the only acceptable number

Vision Zero starts with the premise that all traffic fatalities and serious injuries are preventable. A Vision Zero Action Plan outlines a holistic approach, encompassing multiple city departments, to eliminating all traffic fatalities in a set period of time. It requires a focused, multi-pronged approach to leadership, enlisting tools across multiple City Departments.

What Pittsburgh is doing.

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Beginning at our 2014 Member’s Meeting, Bike Pittsburgh has been pushing Pittsburgh’s mayors to adopt a policy toward zero traffic deaths. While other policy goals of ours such as a new bike plan and a Complete Streets policy were achieved, which are integral pieces of the puzzle, we still lacked the bold policy goal of zero traffic fatalities. 

That was until March of 2024, Mayor Gainey committed Pittsburgh to the goal of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

The City will focus energy towards achieving this goal in the following ways:

  • Establishing an interdepartmental working group dedicated to eliminating the occurrence of severe injuries and fatalities due to traffic crashes.
  • Forming a fatal crash response group to act quickly when fatal crashes occur, solving to root cause, and developing short- and long-term solutions.
  • Prioritizing both capital project solutions and low-cost, effective countermeasures, at scale, and at locations that will have the greatest impact on residents.
  • Using a data-driven approach, the city will rely on the High Injury Network map as a guide to prioritize this work.

Updates to the Vision Zero plan will be hosted on the City’s Vision Zero Engage Page.

UPDATES:

April 2024: City launches a Vision Zero Engage Page outlining their actions, and produces the Complete Streets State of Mobility Report

March 2024: Mayor Gainey formally commits to eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries at a press conference. Councilwoman Barb Warwick introduced a resolution to back up the announcement with some first steps.

December 2023: The Federal Government awards the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission a grant to develop a Vision Zero Action Plan with the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

May 2023: Editorial in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – Scott Bricker: Pittsburgh should commit to achieving zero traffic deaths by 2035

Pittsburgh Needs Vision Zero.

Approximately 20-25 Pittsburghers die every year traveling our streets. About a third of these deaths every year are pedestrians. Between 2010 and 2020, we lost 200 Pittsburghers to traffic violence, 55 of whom were walking, with another six people who were on bicycles.

These deaths are preventable.

In a city where nearly 25% of households do not own a motor vehicle, working toward zero traffic deaths, with a focus on equity and pedestrian dignity, aligns with the vision outlined first in Mayor Gainey’s inspiring transition plan, and as of March 2024, with a formal commitment to eliminate fatal crashes, albeit without a set target date.

See our Snapshot of Pittsburgh Walking and Bicycling Trends and Statistics.

These deaths and injuries are preventable, and many cities across the country have committed publicly to end traffic fatalities by a target date. Pittsburgh, like other cities our size, can achieve this milestone. Committing to zero deaths is good policy and demonstrates to residents that if we work together, create a plan and dedicate funds and additional personnel to improve our streets, then eventually no Pittsburgher will have to deal with losing a loved one while they were traveling or recreating on our streets. 

Over the past decade, Pittsburgh averages 4,234 reported crashes per year. A person walking is hit every 34 hours.

This philosophy is often called “Vision Zero,” “Road to Zero” or “Toward Zero Traffic Fatalities,” and uses a Safe System Approach to engineering — a proactive method to slow cars on our streets and carve out more space for biking, walking, and transit. 

Traffic crashes affect a significant percentage of Pittsburgh residents. According to a recent poll (Lake Research Partners 2021) one-quarter of Pittsburgh voters say that they themselves have been injured in a crash, while two-thirds say they know someone who has.

The Federal Government agrees, and has developed a National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) with five elements to address what he calls a “national crisis:” safer roads, safer people, safer vehicles, safer speeds, and better post-crash care. But the federal government needs local municipalities to also do their part, namely by designing roads and intersections in ways that encourage drivers to drive safely and at a speed that’s appropriate, and allocating more protected space for pedestrians and bicyclists.

To assist cities toward the goal of zero traffic deaths, Secretary Buttigieg stated that USDOT is looking to fund local visions and local plans. “Part of what we’re announcing is hundreds of local planning grants, each of which will be tailored to the needs of the particular community,” as long as they are pursuing a goal of zero traffic deaths. As Secretary Buttigieg says, “No one thinks zero can happen overnight, but we’ve seen when cities aim for zero, they start getting closer to it.” Additionally, formally adopting a policy and creating an Action Plan will open the city up to even more funding opportunities.

Mistakes are made, whether it is behind the wheel, walking, or biking. But those mistakes shouldn’t cost anyone their life. 

Existing Plans & Policies towards Vision Zero

Existing City Programs towards Vision Zero