TO: TRANSPORTATION AND FROM: John Ristow
ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: Vision Zero Traffic Safety DATE: October 11, 2024 Status Report
Approved Date
10/24/2024
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the Vision Zero Traffic Safety Status Report.
BACKGROUND
Vision Zero is the City’s transportation initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries. It is a key project in the City Council’s Focus Area of Increasing Community Safety. In February 2020, the City Council approved the 2020 Vision Zero Action Plan (VZAP), a strategy comprised of $25 million in improvements focused on eliminating fatalities and reducing severe injuries while providing safe mobility on San José roadways. A total of $13.4 million has been programmed to date.
This memorandum provides an update on traffic collision data trends in 2024, recent 2020 VZAP accomplishments, and an updated timeline for the 2025 VZAP.
ANALYSIS
The goal of Vision Zero is to reduce and eventually eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries. Department of Transportation (DOT) staff are working diligently to analyze traffic fatality trends, deliver life-saving traffic safety projects, and ensure that the updated VZAP continues to support the City’s goals. Although the City has seen traffic fatalities decrease, all traffic fatalities are tragedies, and one traffic death is too many.
Traffic Fatality Data Trends
In San José, between 2012 and 2023: annual traffic fatalities have ranged from a low of 29 in 2012 to a peak of 65 in 2022. Figure 1 shows City of San José traffic fatalities by year. In 2023, San José experienced a 25% traffic fatality reduction to 49 compared to T&E AGENDA: 11/4/2024
ITEM
T&E AGENDA: 11/4/24
ITEM: (d) 4
TRANSPORTATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
October 11, 2024
Subject: Vision Zero Traffic Safety Status Report
2022. During the first 9-months of 2024, traffic fatalities have occurred at roughly the same pace as in 2023. Figure 2 shows that in 2024, traffic fatalities (yellow line) have been on the low end of the 5-year range (orange bar), similar to 2023 (gray line).
Figure 1 – San José Traffic Fatalities
(2012-2023)
Figure 2 – Cumulative Traffic Fatalities by
Month (2023, 2024)
Figure 3 – Cumulative Pedestrian Fatalities
by Month (2023, 2024)
Figure 4 – Cumulative Bike Fatalities by
Month (2023, 2024)
Figure 3 shows the cumulative pedestrian fatalities by month. As of the end of September, pedestrian fatalities in 2024 are slightly lower than 2023 and is predominantly on the low end of the 5-year range. Figure 4 shows cumulative bike fatalities by month. Bike fatalities have been in the mid to high range of the 5-year range, but remain significantly fewer than pedestrian fatalities.
Highlighted Accomplishments
Safety Improvement Projects
The McKee Road Safety Improvement Project funded by the One Bay Area Grant was completed in May 2024. The project implemented safety improvements along McKee
TRANSPORTATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
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Subject: Vision Zero Traffic Safety Status Report
Road, a Priority Safety Corridor, between U.S. 101 and Toyon Avenue. This project focused on delivering safety improvements for bicyclist, pedestrians, drivers, and those taking transit by implementing measures to help reduce vehicle speeds, minimize vehicle conflicts, increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety and visibility, and improve connectivity and accessibility for residents to transit, local businesses, and recreational facilities. Improvements included: upgrades to traffic signals, high visibility crosswalks and accessible curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), buffered bike lanes and green paint at the conflict zones at signalized intersections, new and modified median islands with trees/landscaping, and bulb-outs at major intersection corners to slow down vehicles making right turns.
The Mount Pleasant Pedestrian and Bike Traffic Safety Improvement Project funded by the Vehicle Emission Reduction Based at Schools (VERBS) Program was completed in July 2024. The project implemented improvements near seven schools within the Mount Pleasant area. Improvements included: new sidewalks along Mt. Pleasant Road, pavement markings and signage, bulb outs, median refuge islands, new bicycle racks, and accessibility curb ramps.
In addition to the above projects, DOT constructed 58 pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects in Fiscal Year 2023-2024, including enhanced pedestrian crosswalks with flashing beacons, curb extensions, median refuge islands, radar speed display signs, speed humps, centerlines, and edge lines. An additional 41 pedestrian or roadway safety projects are currently under design or scheduled for construction this fiscal year.
Quick-build safety improvements are prioritized on Priority Safety Corridors often leveraging the Traffic Capital Improvement Program and Citywide Pavement Program to expedite pedestrian and bicyclist safety treatments. Quick-build improvements primarily consist of pavement markings, roadway signs, plastic bollards, traffic lane reconfiguration, streetlight upgrades, minor traffic signal hardware enhancements, and traffic signal timing changes.
Quick-build safety improvements were implemented for segment of Saratoga Avenue in early 2024. Segments of McKee Road, Moorpark Avenue, Quimby Road, Story Road, Blossom Hill Road, and Snell Avenue are either under implementation or anticipated for completion in fall 2024 to early 2025.
School Safety
In Fiscal Year 2023-2024, DOT established a new School Safety Program to proactively address safety concerns at and around all K-12 schools throughout San José. Funding for the program’s staffing and project delivery is provided by Measure B Congestion Relief funds, totaling approximately $6.6 million over the next five years. The program is
TRANSPORTATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
October 11, 2024
Subject: Vision Zero Traffic Safety Status Report
designed to collaborate with a wide range of initiatives, including the Walk ‘n’ Roll team for education and outreach, the San José Police Department’s Adult Crossing Guard Program, and leadership from schools and school districts citywide, to inform the access and circulation studies and to identify potential improvements within school parking lots and on roadways surrounding schools. Access and circulation studies are evaluations that focus on how vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists move into, through, and out of the school. These studies analyze the design and efficiency of access points, such as the driveways and entrances/exits and traffic around the school and identify opportunities for safety enhancements. The goal is to optimize the flow of traffic, reduce congestion, and enhance safety.
During the first year of the program, 114 school crosswalks were upgraded with highvisibility markings and 11 access and circulation studies were conducted, with comprehensive safety enhancements completed at three schools (Rocketship Alma Academy, Blackford Elementary and Toyon Elementary). Beginning in Fiscal Year 2024-2025, the program was fully staffed at and anticipates completing access and circulation studies and implementing improvements at 35 schools and upgrading at least 100 school crosswalks to high-visibility markings. The program is tracking on target through the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024-2025, with the enhancement of 62 crosswalks, and completion of four access/circulation studies and associated improvements installed.
Post-Project Evaluation:
The post-project evaluation program is a new initiative under the Vision Zero program aimed at assessing the effectiveness of quick-build improvements. The program will use data analysis to evaluate the impact of quick-build enhancements and identify any further adjustments that could make the streets safe for all users prior to implementing permanent infrastructure changes. Post-project evaluation is a critical step in the San José Vision Zero program’s “Temporary to Permanent” strategy. Once a street is redesigned in quick build, data collection and analysis are completed, and adjustments are made to improve the project’s injury-reduction performance, the City can apply for grant funding to make the temporary improvements permanent. Currently, Senter Road and Hillsdale Avenue are undergoing evaluation. These were among the first Priority Safety Corridors to receive quick-build improvements under the 2020 VZAP. Curtner Avenue and Saratoga Avenue are slated to be evaluated next.
Grant Funds Awarded:
During Fiscal Year 2023-2024, DOT received approximately $31 million in grant funding for educational, and speed safety camera projects and capital improvements that support improving safety for those driving, walking, biking, and taking transit. San José’s
TRANSPORTATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
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Subject: Vision Zero Traffic Safety Status Report
recent two wins of the competitive new United States Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant will fund the redesign of four intersections with some of the highest fatal and severe injuries and the citywide speed camera pilot authorized by 2023 Assembly Bill 645. See Attachment A for list of grant projects.
Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan:
In 2021, the Vision Zero program was awarded a Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant to develop a pedestrian safety plan. The Walk Safe San José:
Pedestrian Safety Plan, focused on improving pedestrian safety and mobility in priority areas throughout the city, was completed in spring 2024. The plan leveraged big data and extensive engagement with vulnerable road users to identify key locations where San José residents would benefit most from pedestrian safety enhancements. An Equity Steering Committee, focused on advancing equity and social justice, guided the plan’s development and prioritized locations for in-person engagement. The committee collaborated closely with community-based organizations, stakeholders, and community leaders to ensure the plan reflected the needs of all residents.
The plan resulted in the development of quick-build plans for eight focus areas, along with strategies to improve access to transit, enhance traffic signal timing, and address challenges in navigating urban spaces. These spaces include construction sites, Caltrans facilities, such as elevated freeways and on- and off-ramps, and transitions between public and private areas. These deliverables align with the key strategies in the upcoming 2025 VZAP which includes the need to prioritize safety improvements in Equity and Vulnerable Road Users priority areas. DOT will actively pursue grant opportunities to implement the projects in the Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan.
2025 Vision Zero Action Plan Development: Timeline and Public Comments The draft 2025 VZAP was presented at the June 2024 Vision Zero Task Force meeting and was circulated for public comment in July and August. Several email submissions and 35 comments were submitted via the online form. Sixteen highly engaged advocates, many of whom are members of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), collaborated with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Commission to co-author a 15-page document of suggestions. Comments were also submitted by members of the Vision Zero Task Force, including representatives of the San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). The feedback received was summarized into categories and is outlined in Attachment B. Many of the recommendations are resource dependent.
The proposed 2025 VZAP, along with the comments received, is scheduled for final review at the Vison Zero Task Force meeting on October 24, 2024. The final draft will
TRANSPORTATION & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
October 11, 2024
Subject: Vision Zero Traffic Safety Status Report
be brought to City Council for approval before April 2025, a requirement for eligibility in the next federal SS4A funding round.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the San José Police Department and the City Attorney’s Office.
/s/
JOHN RISTOW
Director of Transportation
For questions, please contact Heather Hoshii, Deputy Director for Transportation Safety, Operations, and Parking, at [email protected].
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Grants Awarded for Safety Projects (Fiscal Year 2023-2024) Attachment B: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan Comment Summary