RESOLUTION NO. 24-xx
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE COUNTYWIDE AND CITY/TOWN
LOCAL ROADWAY SAFETY PLAN AND ACCOMPANYING VISION
ZERO GOAL AND DESIGNATING SAFETY CORRIDORS WITHIN
THE TOWN OF ATHERTON
WHEREAS, according to data from the California Strategic Highway Safety Plan, 17,317 people have been killed in traffic collisions in California from 2013 through 2017, for an average of 9.5 people per day; and
WHEREAS, from 2018 to 2022, a reported 4 crashes resulted in deaths or severe, life-changing injuries on non-freeway roadways in Atherton; and WHEREAS, one death on Atherton streets is one too many, and Atherton is dedicated to strategies that aim to reduce and eliminate deaths and serious injuries on streets in all jurisdictions countywide; and
WHEREAS, seniors, children, people of color, people with disabilities, people in low-income communities, people walking, and people bicycling face a disproportionate risk of traffic injuries and fatalities; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Atherton Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) identifies pedestrian and bicyclist safety, nighttime/low light safety, unsignalized intersections on arterial/collector roadways, safety for youth and aging populations, speed-related roadway crashes, and roadways with posted speeds 35mph or higher as emphasis areas for safety improvement; and
WHEREAS, Vision Zero is a public health-based traffic safety strategy to reduce and eventually eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries using a data-driven, multidisciplinary, and Safe System approach that also increases safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all; and
WHEREAS, the Safe System Approach recognizes that while human error will always occur, a system of redundant engineering and non-engineering solutions can reduce crashes and can prevent crashes from causing death or severe injuries; and WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration has made a commitment to eliminating fatalities and serious injuries on the nation's roadways using a Safe System approach to achieve the goals of Vision Zero; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Highway Administration and State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) grant funding for improving safety requires the preparation and implementation of a systematic approach to improve safety as presented in the Countywide and Town of Atherton LRSP (Exhibit A); and
WHEREAS, Caltrans has adopted the goal of moving “toward zero deaths” by incorporating the Safe System Approach and using proven effective strategies and countermeasures; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) passed a Vision Zero policy in 2020 that identified actions to support agencies like the Town of Atherton; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Atherton adopts Vision Zero is its guiding principle for transportation planning, in conjunction with C/CAG adopting this vision at the County level; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Atherton shall pursue the recommended near-and long-term policy, program, and guidelines recommendations identified in the LRSP, with the overriding goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Atherton shall refer to the prioritized locations in the Countywide and Town of Atherton LRSP sections when considering safety improvements, which locations were prioritized including considerations of social equity; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Atherton shall participate in an inter-jurisdictional Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) led by C/CAG, to include staff from constituent jurisdictions along with partner agencies identified in the LRSP; and which will be used to implement the LRSP and integrate the Safe System approach into all aspects of transportation planning and engineering; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town adopts the Countywide Local Roadway Safety Plan and the Town of Atherton Local Roadway Safety Plan that summarizes specific recommendations and action items to be taken by the Town of Atherton and partner agencies that will address the listed emphasis areas; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the LRSP will be implemented in an equitable manner, accounting for historic inequities in transportation and safety investments across the county; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Atherton shall develop an annual update and a 3-5 year report on progress toward the Vision Zero goals, tracking process and outcome metrics, and shall present these updates to the City Council.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the following streets be designated as Safety Corridors:
Alameda de las Pulgas
Marsh Road
Middlefield Road
Oak Grove Avenue
Valparaiso Avenue
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a meeting of the City of Council of the Town of Atherton held on the 20th day of November, 2024, by the following vote:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
______________________
Diana Hawkins-Manuelian, MAYOR
ATTEST:
________________________
Anthony Suber, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________
Mona G. Ebrahimi, City Attorney