[Archived] City of Alexandria Invites Comment on Draft Vision Zero, Police Traffic Safety Plans

For Immediate Release: November 8, 2017

The City of Alexandria invites public comment at alexandriava.gov/VisionZero on draft versions of two key documents that will guide efforts to make local streets safer. The Vision Zero Action Plan outlines strategies to eliminate all traffic deaths and serious injuries in Alexandria by 2028, while the Police Traffic Safety Plan focuses on the role of traffic enforcement and education in preventing serious crashes.

“As a Vision Zero community, Alexandria recognizes that traffic injuries and fatalities are preventable,” said City Manager Mark Jinks. “The Vision Zero Draft Action Plan is a roadmap that will help guide City staff, key partners, and the entire community in reaching our shared goal of making our streets safer.”

The Alexandria Police Department’s Traffic Safety Plan is an integral part of the Vision Zero initiative, and acknowledges both the unique role of the City’s police department in traffic safety and the importance of traffic safety in the police department’s mission.

“The safety of our community is of paramount importance to the Alexandria Police Department,” said Chief Michael Brown. “Our goal for this traffic safety plan is to create a safe, viable and balanced system to help eradicate traffic crashes, serious injuries and fatalities, while promoting voluntary compliance with traffic laws through education and enforcement.”

These plans highlight the City’s multidisciplinary, multi-departmental approach to improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and passengers. The Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted the Vision Zero international traffic safety concept in January, and work on the Action Plan began in February.

The draft plan includes an overview of the City’s efforts to achieve Vision Zero; the process involved in building the Action Plan; strategies and action items that various departments will undertake; funding needed; and a call to action for the community to stay involved in this key safety initiative. The City used a four-part process to build the plan: data analysis, evaluating best practices, an interdepartmental working group, and public input.

More than 1,000 residents, visitors, employees, and business owners participated in the Vision Zero Action Plan process and provided feedback on the challenges of safely moving around Alexandria. The plan highlights the top three safety concerns reported by the community in a public survey earlier this year: distracted driving, speeding, and the running of red lights or stop signs.

The public is invited to review the draft plans, and provide online input through November 26, at alexandriava.gov/VisionZero. City Council will hold a public hearing on the Draft Vision Zero Action Plan on December 16, as part of the meeting that begins at 9:30 a.m., in the City Council Chamber at Alexandria City Hall (301 King St.).

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mail geralyn.taylor@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4084, Virginia Relay 711.

This release is available at www.alexandriava.gov/100499.