OKLAHOMA CITY — An extensive plan to increase road safety in Oklahoma City was presented to the Oklahoma City Council Tuesday.
The plan is Vision Zero, an effort to increase road safety in Oklahoma City and eliminate road deaths for pedestrians.
Presenting was Brian Shamburger who specializes in municipal transportation engineering design and planning and is the Principal at Kimley-Horn. He has been brought onto the Vision Zero Plan as Lead Consultant and gave a brief presentation about the plan’s progress.
Vision Zero continues to push for pedestrian safety
Shamburger described the ambitious goal. “The goal is to ultimately eliminate all traffic fatalities on the city’s roadway,” said Shamburger. But later in the presentation he said that he didn’t know if that goal could be reached.
The idea is that even if they can’t get to zero, they can still try to get a low number. Vision Zero is setting lofty goals in the hopes that there is a significant push for safer roads.
They have had some success in the past, such as when they helped to secure an $800,000 grant. But, there are also some other grants that Vision Zero is trying to get.
In the hallway outside the City Council chamber after the presentation, Justin Henry, transportation program planner for the City of Oklahoma City was able to elaborate on some other ways they were getting funding.
“There are actually a few different options here. We have an option with ACOG; they have safety grants they get through federal funding that they distribute as well. We have had some success recently with getting some of those,” Henry said.
Their most recent presentation also featured information about some new grants they would like to apply for including SS4 implementation grants and some other supplemental grants as well.
Vision Zero has been trying to set some new standards for Oklahoma pedestrian safety.
“The City of Oklahoma City aims to eliminate road fatalities through strategic infrastructure enhancements, policy advocacy, and inclusive education,” reads Vision Zero’s mission statement. “The city is dedicated to protecting all road users and promoting a sustainable, vibrant community.”
Their efforts have seen some progress over the years. One example would be they have compiled data related to car crashes which allowed them to create what they call a “High Injury Network.”
Community outreach
Along with their meetings and City Council and advisory boards, Vision Zero has been doing community outreach events to get more people involved in the process and be more aware of car/pedestrian safety.
There is also an interactive map that is free and open to the public. That is part of Vision Zero’s attempts to get the community more involved. They have seen some success in this area over the years.
Public shapes Vision Zero plan to reduce traffic fatalities
More to be done about road deaths
Vision Zero has been able to obtain some funding for the city and help to set some new standards.
Looking at their high injury network will show you that. “We are about to start looking at updates to your standards and design standards. How can we introduce safety more within those standards?” Shamburger said to the City Council. Vision Zero is not proposing a new budget or project for the city. They want to direct the thinking behind the policies governing Oklahoma City roadways.
Their next steps include City Council consideration on February 25th.
Michael Luis Farrell is a freelance journalist covering city governments in the Oklahoma City metro. He has lived in OKC his entire life and has been a reporter for The Pioneer newspaper at OCCC.
