The newest Vision Zero Action Plan was adopted by the San José City Council yesterday. In a unanimous vote, councilmembers also passed recommendations included in a memorandum signed by Mayor Mahan, Vice Mayor Foley, and councilmembers Campos, Ortiz, and Doan. The additional recommendations bolster the plan by directing staff to continue collaborating with former members of the now-dissolved Vision Zero Task Force, and to explore ways to reduce the length of time it takes to plan and construct quick-build safety projects.

The 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan focuses our work around five Priority Action Areas:

1. Prioritize Equity and Vulnerable Road Users
   Most of the San José’s Priority Safety Corridors travel through parts of the city identified as Equity Priority Communities. These areas have more underserved populations, such as households with low incomes and people of color. Recognizing the strong correlation between these underserved neighborhoods and higher rates of traffic fatalities and severe injuries, the plan commits to focused action for these communities.
   
   
2. Center Data Analytics and Reporting
   This Action Area focuses on using data to measure our progress, evaluate the safety benefits of completed projects, and inform future projects to maximize safety.
   
   
3. Strategize Traffic Enforcement
   Address the top three known violations leading to fatal and severe injuries: speeding, unsafe turning, and red-light running. A key initiative under this action area are our upcoming automated enforcement programs, including the Speed Safety System Pilot and Red-Light Running Camera Pilot projects.
   
   
4. Engineer for Safety
   Engineering improvements are essential to creating safer, more accessible streets for all users. The plan calls for more safety projects, delivered more efficiently. We do this by using temporary, low-cost materials and that can be rapidly deployed and evaluated in high-injury areas.
   
   
5. Engage the Community and Message Safety
   Community engagement and education are key to creating a culture of safety. This Action Area builds on existing programs, such as our Walk N’ Roll school safety program and “Slow Down, San José” education campaign.

Other new elements in the update:

• Ensure the plan is compliant with a major source of federal funding;
• Commit us to an ambitious goal of reducing fatalities and severe injuries by 30% over the next five years, on our way to our goal of eliminating them by 2040;
• Shift oversight responsibility from the Vision Zero Task Force to the City Council Transportation and Environment Committee;
• Align our work with national best practices, collectively called the Safe System Approach; and
• Place greater emphasis on severe injuries and vulnerable road users.

Of course, our most powerful tool to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries is the users of the streets themselves – that means you! Slow down, put away distractions like cell phones, and look out for your neighbors. Thank you for doing all you can to make our streets safer.

Read the full Vision Zero Action Plan here.