Vision Zero

What is the Vision Zero Goal?

• What's New?

  DTPW submitted a competitive Safe Streets and Roads for All (SSA4) grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, funded by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This new grant program highlights the USDOT’s commitment to Vision Zero and advancing the Safe System approach – a holistic tactic of reconstructing our roadway network to encourage safe speeds and reduce injury severity in crashes.
  
  The projects included in the grant application help advance our Vision Zero goal while centering equity to serve our most disadvantaged and disinvested communities. 
  
  Safety Projects Design are Underway
  DTPW’s Project Delivery team is currently designing 23 projects across the county aimed at improving safety and comfort for all users. Projects vary from installing high-visibility crosswalks, buffer bike lanes to construction of traffic circles, roundabouts, curb extensions, pedestrian-actuated crossing signal (aka Rapid Flashing Beacons) and new traffic signals. These projects are funded through 2024 with expected construction starting in Spring 2023.
• Key Objectives

  Key objectives of this Plan include:

  • establishing a methodology by which crash statistics can continue to be used to determine priorities for crash locations improvements
  • measuring the ongoing progress of the Plan
  • providing a means to engage local government and citizenry
  • offering specific guidance on proven safety countermeasures

  Miami-Dade County had more road fatalities per 100,000 people than Washington D.C., Seattle, and Los Angeles. Traffic crashes in our area result in about four deaths and 16 injuries every week.  Miami-Dade County recognizes that these aren’t just numbers.

  These incidents affect our neighbors, co-workers, friends, and family. These deaths and injuries are preventable, which is why embracing Vision Zero is essential in effectively tackling safety in a comprehensive manner and reducing traffic incidents drastically.
  
  For question and comments about the Vision Zero Program, email us or call 786-469-5204. 

• Give Feedback

  We want to hear from you about your experience when walking, biking, taking transit, or driving in Miami-Dade County. 
  
  There are two ways you can participate:
  

  • Take this survey to tell us which Vision Zero improvements you would like to see in your neighborhood
  • Take this survey to provide Countywide feedback
• Focus Areas

  Vision Zero is an international transportation safety movement, pushing all stakeholders (roadway users, government departments, elected officials, engineers, etc.)  toward the most effective ways to eliminate deadly crashes and move towards a culture of safety for everyone who uses our streets. The program was launched in 2021 with an announcement from Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and with the development of the 2021 Vision Zero Framework Plan which identified actions for a paradigm shift towards creating a safer system for all users. 

   

  Making a commitment to zero traffic deaths means addressing all aspects of safety through five overarching program goals. Our goals are based on FHWA’s Safe System approach that, together, creates a holistic approach with layers of protection for all road users. The goals are:

  • Enhance Processes and Collaboration
    Since Vision Zero is a philosophy new to Miami-Dade County and impacts the management of its transportation system, many foundational changes are needed to institutionalize the approach. Though the County regularly coordinates transportation projects and safety initiatives internally and externally; as a matter of practice, existing processes, programs, and laws do not explicitly address the loss of life on our streets in a proactive, data-driven manner.
    
    Action Plan
    In 2023, DTPW will formally identify and continuously fund Vision Zero program with targeted processes and the right tools to ensure that systematic street design and cultural changes seamlessly happen. 
    
    
  • Build Safe Streets for Everyone
    When we asked people what the County should do to improve traffic safety, the overwhelming top response was: build safe streets for everyone, including safe pedestrian crossings, bicycle facilities, and roadways. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists are often placed at the greatest risk when navigating the transportation system, and therefore streets and safety countermeasures should be designed with the needs of these vulnerable road users in mind. 
    
    Action Plan
    In 2023, DTPW will implement targeted infrastructure improvements at identified high injury crash locations to begin building safer streets for all users of our streets. 
    
    
  • Create Safe Speeds
    Speed reduction is an essential Vision Zero strategy. Higher speeds not only increase the risk of a crash, but also increase the risk of serious injury or death, regardless of mode. The effects of speeding are most pronounced for pedestrians, whose risk of dying if struck by a vehicle increases substantially with vehicle speed. 
    
    Action Plan
    In 2023, DTPW will establish stronger partnerships with enforcement agencies to develop appropriate speed enforcement strategies. Additionally, DTPW will work to update the county’s engineering design standards, which guides how DTPW makes decisions about street design and operations, to include Complete Streets treatments, as identified in the Miami-Dade Complete Streets Design Guidelines.
    
    
  • Promote a Culture of Safety
    Safer streets and lower speeds will go a long way toward eliminating traffic deaths in Miami-Dade County. However, only through honoring our collective responsibility to make safe transportation decisions can we achieve our Vision Zero goals. Safe street design alone cannot prevent someone from driving under the influence or while distracted. A culture shift must take place where collectively understand that our streets are places for people of all ages and abilities to travel, play, shop, build community, and live.
    
    Action Plan
    In 2023, DTPW will implement a multimodal safety and multimedia safety education campaign for all street users. By educating Miamians about safe behaviors in a compelling and personal manner, will assist DTPW and its partners to implement many of the other actions in this category.
    
    
  • Improve Data and Be Transparent
    Building from the findings of the analysis conducted for the Vision Zero Action Framework Plan, we must continue collecting and analyzing crash and speed data while evaluating future project safety impacts and creating a data-driven prioritization process focused on community needs and prioritization of the pedestrian realm, transit, and bicycle facilities. Program progress and information should be shared with the public and stakeholders to support and promote efficiency and effectiveness.
    
    Action Plan
    In 2023, DTPW will establish an official Vision Zero dashboard to be available to the public with project updates, events, educational campaigns, and aggregate crash information so that all agencies and partners build their information with consistent information and messaging.

Resources