Attachment — San Jose City Council, February 25, 2025

VISION
ZERO
ACTION
PLAN
City of San José
2025
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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2 Vision Zero is San José’s initiative to
reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

Locations with High Concentration of Traffic Fatalities and Severe Injuries in San José (2019-2023 crash data)
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Acknowledgements
The 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan team respectfully acknowledges all individuals who have lost their lives in traffic crashes on San José roadways.

The development of the San José 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan was guided by the following contributors:

San José Vision Zero Task Force
Councilmember Pam Foley, Chair
Councilmember Bien Doan, Vice Chair
AARP
Bay Area Families for Safe Streets
Santa Clara County Department of Education
Santa Clara County Emergency Medical Services
Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner
Santa Clara County Public Health
Santa Clara County Roads and Airports
San José City Manager Office
San José Department of Transportation
San José Fire Department
San José Housing Department
San José Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department San José Police Department
Valley Transportation Authority
Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
San José Department of Transportation
John Ristow, Director
Rick Scott, Assistant Director
Heather Hoshii, Deputy Director
Colin Heyne, Public Information Manager
Lam Cruz, Safety Division Manager & Acting Speed Safety System Manager Jim Bittner, School Safety Manager & Acting Safety Division Manager Anna Le, Community Engagement Manager
Vu Dao, Senior Engineer, Quick Build Program
Shu Su, Senior Engineer, Neighborhood and Traffic Management Jesse Mintz-Roth, Vision Zero Program Leader
Thao Nguyen, Vision Zero Data Manager
Kaushalya Gunasena, Vision Zero Transportation Data Specialist San José Elected Officials
Mayor | Matt Mahan
District 1 | Rosemary Kamei
District 2 | Pamela Campos
District 3 | Carl Salas (Interim)
District 4 | David Cohen
District 5 | Peter Ortiz
District 6 | Michael Mulcahy
District 7 | Bien Doan
District 8 | Domingo Candelas
District 9 | Pam Foley
District 10 | George Casey
The report was authored by the Vision Zero team.

We extend our gratitude to the many San José Department of Transportation employees whose daily efforts and contributions lead progress toward Vision Zero.

Your dedication and collaboration are deeply appreciated.

Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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J
4 Message from City Leadership

MESSAGE FROM CITY LEADERSHIP
Fellow San Joseans,
We are pleased to share the City of San José’s 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan– a roadmap for eliminating fatal and severe injuries on our streets by 2040.

Traffic violence affects our family members, neighbors, co-workers and friends. The City of San José is deeply committed to ensuring safer streets throughout the city.

As leaders from the City of San José administration, City Council, and departments of Transportation and Police, all dedicated to public health and safety, we are proud to champion San José’s initiatives to reduce and eventually eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries.

We started a Vision Zero Task Force in 2020 to bring greater attention to the issue. We have so many more tools available than we did even five years ago. We have worked with other California cities and the state legislature to gain the ability to pilot speed cameras.

The tactics laid out in the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan are informed by data analysis and community input. The actions, strategies, and priorities contained in this action and work plan are about making our streets safe for all and saving lives.

Mayor Vice May or DOT Dir ector Chief of P olice Matt Mahan Pam F oley John Rist ow Paul Jose ph Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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5 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................

Message from City Leadership ....................................................................................................

Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................

About Vision Zero .......................................................................................................................

Vision Zero in San José ...............................................................................................................

Vision Zer o Task Force and Beyond............................................................................................

Creating the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan: Engagement and Collaboration ............................

Public Commen ts: What We Heard ....................................................................................

Prioritizing Additional Deliv erables ..............................................................................

New Elements in the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan .....................................................................

Principles of a Safe System Approach .........................................................................................

Safety Analysis ...........................................................................................................................

San José T raffic Crash Trends .....................................................................................................

Pe ople Walking and Biking Are Most Vulnerable ..........................................................

Speed Leads t o Fatalities and Severe Injuries ...............................................................

Priority Safety Corridors: 2023 Update ..........................................................................

Strategy and Project Selections ...................................................................................................

Key Safety Initiatives and Legislative Actions ............................................................................

Implemen ting Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan ...........................................

Advancing Spe ed Safety Through Policy, Awareness, and Enforcement ....................... 5 Priority Action Areas ...............................................................................................................

1. Prioritize E quity, Vulnerable Road Users ...................................................................

2. Cen ter Data Analytics, Report Metrics ......................................................................

3. Stra tegize Traffic Enforcement ...................................................................................

4. Engineer for Sa fety .....................................................................................................

5. Engag e the Community, Message Safety ...................................................................

Prioritization Criteria .................................................................................................................

Implemen tation Teams ..............................................................................................................

Progress, Transparency, Accountability .......................................................................................

Getting Involved .........................................................................................................................

Contact List ................................................................................................................................ 3 4
6 8
9 12
13 14
15 16
17 18
20 24
25 26
28 28
29 34
35 36
40 42
44 48
51 52
53 54
55 Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan builds upon San José’s commitment to eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries through data-driven strategies, community engagement, and alignment with national best practices. This Plan introduces significant updates since the 2020 Vision Zero Action Plan, as well as initiatives aimed at creating safer streets for all users while prioritizing equity, vulnerable road users, and systemic safety improvements.

Key Updates in the 2025 Plan
The 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan aligns with federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant requirements and adopts the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe System Approach.

Oversight will transition from the Vision Zero Task Force to the Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee with supplemental guidance from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). The Plan also doubles the mileage of Priority Safety Corridors, focuses on implementation, and increases focus on the needs of vulnerable road users.

Safety Analysis and Key Initiatives
The Plan includes a comprehensive safety analysis to identify crash trends, high-risk locations, and contributing factors. The City of San José has identified two major crash trends: (1) people walking and biking are the most vulnerable road users, and (2) speeding is a leading cause of fatalities and severe injuries.

Key initiatives include implementing recommendations from the Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan, launching the “Slow Down, San José” behavior change campaign, and initiating speed safety system pilots enabled by Assembly Bills 43 (Speed Limits) and 645 (Speed Cameras). These initiatives reflect the City’s focus on addressing the root causes of crashes while advancing public awareness and legislative tools.

Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
(RRFB): Pedestrian-activated flashing
lights to help notify approaching
drivers when a pedestrian wants to
cross a street.

Reference: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/
proven-safety-countermeasures/rectangular-
rapid-flashing-beacons-rrfb
High Visibility Crosswalk: Patterned striping
that is more visible to drivers.

Reference: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/
proven-safety-countermeasures/crosswalk-visibility-
enhancements
Executive Summary
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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7 Priority Action Areas
The 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan is organized around five Priority Action Areas:

1. Prioritize Equity and Vulnerable Road Users: Focus on underserved communities and high-risk populations to ensure equitable access to safe streets.

2. Center Data Analytics and Reporting: Use advanced data tools to track progress and target safety interventions effectively.

3. Strategize Traffic Enforcement: Deploy focused enforcement strategies, including speed and red-light camera systems.

4. Engineer for Safety: Enhance infrastructure through data-driven Quick Build projects and capital improvements.

5. Engage the Community and Message Safety: Strengthen public outreach, education, and safety awareness efforts.

With an increased focus on equity for vulnerable road users, funding the Walk Safe San José:

Pedestrian Safety Plan is the program’s newest priority. San José will continue building on the Quick Build Priority Safety Corridor redesigns that were the largest area of program investment in the last five years. Quick Build is a project delivery model that uses paint and simple physical objects to rapidly implement changes to streets, with the expectation that it may undergo change after installation and built using materials that allow such changes. It is often used to “test” how a concept works both operationally and for the community or as a short-term, inexpensive solution to an immediate problem while the longer-term permanent solution is being designed or seeking funding. 1 Since 2020, over $4 million has been spent on approximately 20 miles of Quick Build improvements on the streets with the highest concentrations of fatal and severe injury crashes. An estimated additional $26 million will be needed to complete the network Quick Build redesign of the new larger Priority Safety Corridor map.

Through collaboration with stakeholders, proactive policies, and a commitment to equity, the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan aims to reduce fatal and severe injuries 30% by 2030 with the ultimate goal of eliminating fatal and severe injuries by 2040 . This Plan lays the foundation for a safer, more equitable transportation system in San José.

Walk N’ Roll Program: School safety education
1 https://www.vta.org/cdt/street-design-implementation-home-page/quick-build-projects Executive Summary
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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8 About Vision Zero

ABOUT VISION ZERO
Vision Zero, launched in Sweden in 1997, is a global initiative aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. By prioritizing safety through data-driven strategies and collaboration, Sweden reduced road deaths to 2.8 per 100,000 people by 2016, a significant contrast to the United States’ rate of 12.4 fatalities per 100,000.
2 In the United States, New York City, San Francisco and San José were early adopters of Vision Zero, setting examples by applying Vision Zero’s principles to reduce rising traffic fatalities. Today, Vision Zero has evolved into a comprehensive framework embraced by communities nationwide. Its approach emphasizes shared responsibility among stakeholders—city officials, road designers, law enforcement, educators, health professionals, community advocates, and residents—to design safer systems and behaviors.

San José adopted Vision Zero in 2015, becoming the fourth city in the United States to commit to eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. San José’s adoption of Vision Zero came during a time of rising traffic fatalities nationwide. By aligning infrastructure improvements, enforcement strategies, and community engagement, Vision Zero advances the goal of a transportation system in which no loss of life is acceptable.
2 https://www.weforum.org/stories/2015/10/countries-with-the-most-and-least-road-traffic-deaths/ https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/pdf/2016-07-vitalsigns.pdf Walk N’ Roll Program: Walk audit
About Vision Zero
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Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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Quick Build pop-up demonstration
Senior Walk Day event
9 VISION ZERO IN SAN JOSÉ
Vision Zero in San José
Since adopting Vision Zero, San José has employed a multidisciplinary approach to improve street safety and work towards eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries. The City’s major accomplishments over the first 10 Vision Zero years (2015-2024) include:
• Committed Funding: $13.4 million
since 2020, 70% of which was on safety
engineering.
• Physical Improvements:
o 848 leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs).
o 41,100 streetlight upgrades to brighter
and more energy efficient LED.
o 218 miles of bike lanes installed: 96 miles
striped bike lanes, 68 miles bike routes
with sharrows, 16 miles bike boulevards,
38 miles separated bikeways.
o 352 signal safety improvement projects.
• Rapid Adoption: Better Bikeways project
in 2018 redesigned much of downtown
San José near City Hall and San José State
University: worked with National Association
of City Transportation Officials, pioneered
protected intersection designs to slow turns,
shortened pedestrian crossing distances, and
created protected bikeways.
• Focused Investments:
o $9.3 million invested in Quick Build redesigns
o Capital improvement projects
o Vision Zero Quick Build team created to
redesign Priority Safety Corridors.
• Grant Awards: Over $100 million since 2019.

Won the new United States Department of
Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All
(SS4A) grant twice, funding two important
safety efforts:

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Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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10 Vision Zero in San José
o Redesign of four intersections with
some of the highest fatal and severe
injury crashes.
o Implement the citywide five-year speed
camera pilot.
• Legislative Wins:
o 2021 Assembly Bill (AB) 43 tools to
lower speed limits.
o 2023 AB 645 speed safety system pilot.
o 2023 AB 251 vehicle weight study.
o 2023 AB 361 photographs of bicycle
parking violations.
o 2024 SB 960 requires Caltrans to
prioritize road improvements for
pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders.
• Branding and Education:
o New logo
o “Slow Down, San José” behavior change
campaign
o Promoting speed reduction safety.
• Public Engagement: A public opinion poll
conducted for San José’s “Slow Down”
campaign revealed that 68% of San José
residents support the use of speed cameras
to improve street safety. The polling showed
an even distribution of support across the
city. Additionally, the survey showed that
68% to 79% of residents of color support
the use of the cameras.
• Fatality Review: Evaluation of every San
José traffic fatality to identify cause of
crash, develop design recommendations,
and pursue implementation.
• Data Driven Decisionmaking: Creating
crash data dashboards and working
with companies to build near-miss crash
detection systems that can collect data
about vulnerable road users at and near
intersections.
• Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety
Plan (2024): Complements Priority Safety
Corridor redesigns with input on how
pedestrians use streets, from big data and
an Equity Steering Committee.
• Advancing Equity in Transportation
Safety: Pioneered research into traffic
fatalities involving people experiencing
homelessness, which was included in a
2024 U.S. Federal Highway Administration
Case Study on Roadway Safety Equity.

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Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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11 Vision Zero in San José
Although nationwide fatalities and severe traffic related injuries have increased in recent years, especially during the pandemic, San José’s investment in street improvements resulted in a slower increase in our city compared to other major cities.
3 In 2023, fatalities in San José dropped from
65 in 2022 to 49 and are projected to remain at the same level in 2024. 3 NY Times, “Traffic Enforcement Dwindled in the Pandemic. In Many Places, It Hasn’t Come Back.” 7/29/24. https://www.nytimes.com/ interactive/2024/07/29/upshot/traffic-enforcement-dwindled.html?smid=url-share – see table “Change in road deaths in the 30 largest U.S. cities, 2019-2022” comparing federally reported data in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (which, unlike city reported data, includes Caltrans facilities).

Changes in Road Deaths in the 30 Largest U.S Cities, 2019-2022 Source: NY Times, “Traffic Enforcement Dwindled in the Pandemic. In Many Places, It Hasn’t Come Back.” 7/29/24.

Note: The fatality data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), which includes all known motor vehicle crashes, including those recorded by the California Highway Patrol (CHP). San José Vision Zero reports only crash data collected by the San José Police Department (SJPD). SJPD collects crash data occurring on city streets and County expressways within San José.

Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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12 Following the adoption of the 2020 Vision
Zero Action Plan, the Vision Zero Task Force
was established. From 2020 to 2024, the
Vision Zero Task Force played the important
role of bringing together City of San José
departments and County of Santa Clara agency
decisionmakers, as well as private nonprofit
partners and advocates, to share data and
resources and raise awareness of Vision Zero
in the city and county. Task Force members
provided comprehensive oversight and ensured
collaborative planning and implementation.

As part of the 2025 Vision Zero Action
Plan, the role of oversight and stakeholder
engagement will transition to the San José
City Council’s Transportation and Environment
(T&E) Committee and Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee (BPAC). The Vision Zero
team will make two presentations per year to
each committee to maintain transparency and
accountability.

Led by the Department of Transportation
(DOT), Vision Zero efforts are closely
coordinated with a broad network of partner
agencies and City departments, underscoring
a citywide commitment to reducing traffic
fatalities and severe injuries. This collaborative
planning structure ensures that Vision Zero
strategies are implemented effectively and
consistently, and that progress is continually
monitored and reported.

The Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee will provide oversight and direction for the Action Plan implementation, reviewing progress reports and guiding necessary adjustments to achieve Vision Zero targets. T&E will facilitate cross-departmental collaboration and ensure the integration of safety objectives into broader transportation and environmental strategies.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) will serve as a community- focused advisory body, receiving regular updates on Action Plan initiatives and progress. BPAC will offer input on pedestrian and cyclist safety measures, helping to align Vision Zero actions with the needs of vulnerable road users and supporting equitable access to safe transportation options citywide.

Vision Zero Task Force and Beyond
Vision Zero in San José
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13 Creating the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan:

Engagement and Collaboration
Developing the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan
involved extensive public engagement and
collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring
diverse representation and meaningful input
at every stage. The Vision Zero Task Force
led the planning process, engaging members
of the public, community groups, and
interagency partners to incorporate feedback
from all levels of the community and to align
Vision Zero priorities with other local and
regional safety plans.

The engagement timeline, announced in
February 2024, provided Task Force members
and the public with an opportunity to review
and influence each phase of the 2025 Vision
Zero Action Plan. Key milestones included a
draft discussion with the City Council in May,
followed by a public comment period from
July to August. Public feedback was then
reviewed and incorporated in October, including
prioritization guidance, and further discussed
at the T&E Committee in November. The final
draft, incorporating all recommendations, was
presented to City Council in February 2025 for
adoption.

Vision Zero Task Force meeting
Vision Zero in San José
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14 Public Comment
Highlights
Engineering
• Systemic approach focusing on roadways
with speed limits of 35 mph or higher.
• Add pedestrian refuge islands.
• Implement daylighting.
• Remove slip lanes.
• Add Quick Build curb extensions.
• Use safety as a factor for repaving schedule.
• Improve lighting.
• Enhance accessibility.
• Reduce speeding.
• Prohibit right turns on red.
• Deliver Quick Build projects faster.
• Lower posted speed limits.

Focus Areas
• Older adults.
• People experiencing homelessness.
• Near transit.
• Near trails.
• Spend more on engineering.
• Proactive about reducing injuries before
they happen.

Engagement and Outreach
• Realign, don’t end the Task Force.
• More leadership.
• Educate drivers about redesigns.

Additional Deliverables
Through the public engagement process,
additional deliverables were identified to guide
future strategies and projects, including:
• Data Sharing Across Jurisdictions:

Incorporate trauma injuries (EMS), light rail
injuries (VTA), shared jurisdictions.
• Innovation: Pilot new types of safety
projects, close slip lanes.
• Messaging: Pedestrian safety, speeding,
distraction.
• More: Traffic calming, pedestrian projects,
walk audits.
• Proactive Work: Create a system-wide
map of a road network with similar
characteristics to the Priority Safety
Corridors to comprehensively identify and
address high-risk areas.
• Quicker: Build Quick Build projects faster
and in high-injury locations.
• Learn and Adapt: Expand assessment
activities to severe injuries (~220/year) in
addition to all traffic fatalities (~50/year)
that we are currently review.
• Transparency: More project progress
reporting on web/dashboard.
• Vulnerable Road Users:  Walk Safe San
José: Pedestrian Safety Plan , top five killed
and severely injured (KSI) locations for
unhoused people and older adults.

Vision Zero in San José
Public Comment: What We Heard
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Vision Zero Task Force meeting
15 Prioritizing Additional Deliverables
At the October 2024 Vision Zero Task Force meeting, DOT presented these public comments and conducted a prioritization exercise for the additional deliverables requested from public comments. In the prioritization exercise, each of the 16 Task Force members identified two top focus areas for the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan by selecting from priority categories. Key priorities emerging from this exercise included:
• More traffic calming and pedestrian safety projects: Emphasizing additional traffic calming measures, pedestrian safety initiatives, and walk audits. • Messaging on safety: Highlighting the importance of public awareness campaigns on pedestrian safety, speeding, and distraction.
• Quicker safety project delivery: Prioritizing faster implementation of Quick Build and capital projects in high-injury locations.
• Vulnerable Road Users: Addressing the needs of vulnerable populations with plans like Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan and focusing on high killed and severely injured locations for people experiencing homelessness and older adults.

In the conversation that followed, there was also greater interest in the Learn and Adapt to Review of severe injuries. This would be in addition to the current San José staff review of all traffic fatalities.

The above Task Force priorities, along with the public’s input, guided the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan’s strategies and project selections, reinforcing San José’s commitment to an inclusive and data-driven approach in achieving Vision Zero goals.

Vision Zero in San José
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16 New Elements in the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

NEW ELEMENTS IN THE
2025 VISION ZERO ACTION PLAN
The 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan is San José’s fourth Action Plan and the second to include a significant funding request. Building on the 2020 Vision Zero Action Plan, it continues to analyze traffic crash trends and prioritize safety improvements. Key updates include:

1. Federal Grant Compliance: The Plan aligns with U.S. DOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant requirements to ensure eligibility and adherence to national standards.

2. Leadership Commitment and Goal Setting: The Plan aims to reduce fatal and severe injuries by 30% by 2030 with the ultimate goal of eliminating fatal and severe injuries by 2040.

3. Shift in Oversight: Oversight transitions from the Vision Zero Task Force to the Transportation and Environment (T&E) Committee, with additional guidance and stakeholder engagement through the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).

4. Safe System Approach: The plan changes from the traditional “E’s” model (enforcement, engagement, education, engineering, and evaluation) to the Safe System Approach, which emphasizes systemic safety improvements to reduce crash severity and protect all road users.

5. Expanded Priority Safety Corridors: The 2023 Priority Safety Corridor (PSC) network now includes double the mileage of the previous PSC network, addressing more high-risk roadways based on injury crash data.

6. Priority Action Areas: Strategy and Project Selections: The Plan has five Priority Action Areas, each with objectives, deliverables, and a project list. Each deliverable is assessed and categorized into short-, mid-, and long-term delivery timeframes.

7. Greater Emphasis on Implementation: Leveraging data inventory and analysis tools developed since 2020, the plan places a stronger emphasis on addressing severe injuries and supporting vulnerable road users, ensuring a targeted and effective response.

These updates reflect San José’s continued commitment to creating safer streets through innovation, equity, and collaboration.
2015 2017-2018 San José
Vision Zero Action Plan Editions
2020 2025
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17 Principles of A Safe System Approach

PRINCIPLES OF A

SAFE SYSTEM APPROACH
The 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan is guided by the principles of the Safe System Approach, as defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This approach reimagines road safety by anticipating human error and designing transportation systems to accommodate for these errors and limitations to prevent fatalities and severe injuries. It emphasizes shared responsibility and proactive risk management to create safer streets for all users.

The Safe System Approach is built on six
foundational principles:
4 • Death and Severe Injuries are Unacceptable:

A Safe System Approach prioritizes the
elimination of crashes that result in death
and severe injuries.
• Humans Make Mistakes: People will
inevitably make mistakes and decisions that
can lead or contribute to crashes, but the
transportation system can be designed and
operated to accommodate certain types and
levels of human mistakes and avoid death
and severe injuries when a crash occurs.
• Humans Are Vulnerable: Human bodies
have physical limits for tolerating crash
forces before death or severe injury occurs;
therefore, it is critical to design and operate
a transportation system that is human-
centric and accommodates physical human
vulnerabilities.
• Responsibility is Shared: All stakeholders—
including government at all levels, industry,
non-profit/advocacy, researchers, and the
general public—are vital to preventing
fatalities and severe injuries on our roadways.
• Safety is Proactive: Proactive tools should
be used to identify and address safety issues
in the transportation system, rather than
waiting for crashes to occur and reacting
afterwards.
• Redundancy is Crucial: Reducing risks
requires that all parts of the transportation
system be strengthened, so that if one part
fails, the other parts still protect people.

Adopting this approach aligns San José’s Vision
Zero efforts with national best practices, ensuring
a proactive, equitable, and effective strategy to
eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries.

Traditional E’s Approach
Prevent crashes
Improve human behavior
Control speeding
Individuals are responsible
React based on crash history
Safe System Approach
Prevent deaths and severe injuries
Design for human mistakes/limitations
Reduce system kinetic energy
Share responsibility
Proactively identify and address risks
4 https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem
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18 32,893
32,744
35,484
37,806
37,473
36,835
36,355 39,007
43,230
42,514
40,990
30000
35000
40000
45000
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Traffic Fatalities in the United States
Safety Analysis

SAFETY ANALYSIS
The Safety Analysis provides a comprehensive review of San José’s existing traffic safety conditions, focusing on historical trends in killed and severely injured (KSI) crashes across all roadway users, including motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. This foundation ensures that the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan’s strategies and projects are informed, effective, and aligned with the Safe System Approach, prioritizing the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and severe injuries across San José.

This Safety Analysis section establishes a baseline understanding of crash and injury frequency and intensity, locations, and contributing factors to identify the highest-risk areas and behaviors.

By examining systemic safety needs and specific risk factors, this assessment supported the development and expansion of San José’s Priority Safety Corridors, pinpointing key corridors where targeted safety interventions can have the greatest safety impact.

National Fatality Trends
From 2019 to 2023, traffic fatalities in
the United States saw significant annual
fluctuations (3.6% decrease to 10.8%
increase).
5 5 https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813561 Pedestrian and Bicycle Fatalities and Severe Injuries per Intersection Attachment A
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19 3,107
3,102
3,387 3,837
3,884
3,798
3,719
3,980
4,513
4,428 4,013
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Traffic Fatalities in California
44 42
60 50
46 52
60 49
60 65 49
0 20
40 60
80 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Traffic Fatalities in San José
Safety Analysis
6 https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesCrashesAndAllVictims.aspx 7 2018-2022 data: https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesCrashesAndAllVictims.aspx 2023 data: https://tims.berkeley.edu/summary.php
Source for KSI data: https://tims.berkeley.edu/tools/query/index.php Bay Area KSI Trends
The nine Bay Area counties collectively experienced fatal and severe injury crash rates similar to state and national trends, also peaking in 2021.
7 13768
14121
15385
17112
18105
19962
20180
19374
22561
22453
20523
10000
15000
20000
25000
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Traffic Fatal and Severe Injuries in California
2143
2267
2464
2572
2622 3062
3180
2716
3103
3245 2956
2000
2500
3000
3500
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Traffic Fatal and Severe Injuries in Bay Area
202
157
206
242
215
246
270
280
296
256
263
100
200
300
400
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Traffic Fatal and Severe Injuries in San José
422
396
484
468
444
465
492
504
510
503 458
350
400
450
500
550
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Traffic Fatalities in Bay Area
California KSI Trends
California’s traffic fatalities mirrored severe injury patterns, peaking in 2021. 6 San José KSI Trends
San José’s traffic fatalities peaked in 2022, similar to national, state, and regional trends. However, KSI has shown a slight upward trend since 2014.

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20 Safety Analysis
San José Traffic Crash Trends
San José’s traffic crash trends from 2019 to 2023 reveal critical patterns that inform the City’s Vision Zero priorities. These data-driven insights underscore the persistent issues of high-severity crashes and highlight vulnerable populations and risk factors to prioritize for safety interventions.

With a total of 24,153 crashes over the five-year period, resulting in 1,365 killed and severely injured (KSI), the data illustrate both ongoing challenges and areas for targeted improvements. • Killed and Severely Injured (KSI) Crash
Trends Over Time: From 2019 to 2023,
San José recorded 283 traffic fatalities.

Fatalities in San José remain high, with
a peak of 65 fatalities in 2022 before
decreasing to 49 in 2023. The KSI crashes
consistently accounted for 5-6% of total
crashes annually. While total crashes and
KSI fluctuated year to year, the steady
proportion of KSI crashes highlights a need
for targeted safety interventions to reduce
high-severity crashes.
• Primary Collision Factors:
o Over the past five years, speeding has
been the top identified primary collision
factor, contributing to 24% of total
crashes and 17% of total KSI crashes.
o Unsafe turn movements account for
11% of total crashes and 5% of total KSI.
o Red-light running contributes to 8% of
total crashes and 5% of total KSI.

Slower Turns for Safer Streets - Educational Flyer
Crossing Safely - Educational Flyer
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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Council
District
Crash Fatality Severe Injury Fatal and Severe Injury
1 1,461 11 60 71
2 1,976 34 111 145
3 4,875 35 165 200
4 1,625 21 78 99
5 3,213 37 127 164
6 2,965 25 123 148
7 3,449 51 173 224
8 1,821 21 109 130
9 1,661 19 75 94
10 1,178 29 62 91
21 Safety Analysis
52% of KSI occurred
during dark hours.
75% of KSI occurred on streets with
speed limits of 35mph or higher.
11% of traffic crashes involved people walking and biking, but they accounted for 42% of KSI and 59% of fatalities San José. • High-Risk Locations and Populations:

Location analysis grouped by individual Council Districts shows the highest concentration of fatalities and severe injuries in Districts 3, 5, and 7, with District 7 alone accounting for 224 KSI crashes. Nearly 68% of Priority Safety Corridors intersect Equity Priority Communities, reflecting the need for equitable access to safer roadways citywide.

San Jose Crash Data by Council District (2019-2023)
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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22 Safety Analysis

TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND SEVERE INJURIES
DURING DARK HOURS (2019-2023)
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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San Jose Fatal and Severe Injuries Data (2014-2023)
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Fatalities 42 60 50 46 52 60 49 60 65 49
Severe Injuries 115 146 192 169 194 210 231 236 191 214 Fatal and
Severe Injuries 157 206 242 215 246 270 280 296 256 263 % KSI Change
Year Over Year
+31% +17% -11% +14% +10% +4% +6% -14% +3%
23 Safety Analysis
The City of San José has identified two major crash trends: (1) people walking and biking are the most vulnerable road users, and (2) speeding is a leading cause of fatalities and severe injuries.

These trends are detailed in the following sections.

To protect vulnerable road users, San José completed the Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan in 2024 and will incorporate its recommendations into the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan. To address speeding, the City launched the “Slow Down, San José” behavior change campaign in 2023 and is implementing Speed Safety System Pilots enabled by Assembly Bills 43 (Speed Limits) and 645 (Speed Cameras). These projects and strategies are further discussed in the Strategy and Project Selections section.

Through collaboration with stakeholders, proactive policies, and a commitment to equity, the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan aims to reduce KSI 30% by 2030, with the ultimate goal of eliminating these crashes by 2040. Over the past decade, KSI in San José has risen by 68%, increasing from 157 in 2014 to 263 in 2023. Achieving a 30% reduction reflects both an ambitious target and alignment with USDOT requirements.

Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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24 Safety Analysis
People Walking and Biking
Are Most Vulnerable
People walking and biking remain
disproportionately vulnerable to traffic-related
deaths and severe injuries in San José. From
2019 to 2023, crashes involving people walking
and biking made up approximately 11% of total
crashes, yet they represented well over half of
traffic fatalities (59%).
• Pedestrian and Bicyclist Fatalities: Of the
total 283 fatalities (2019-2023), pedestrians
accounted for 47% (132) and bicyclists
accounted for 12% (34).
• Age-Based Vulnerability: Fatalities among
pedestrians and bicyclists are particularly
prevalent among older adults. Of the total
pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in the last
five years, nearly half (48%) were aged 55
or older and nearly one-third (29%) were
aged 65 or older. Children 15 years old and
under, although less frequently involved (10
pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in the last
five years), face elevated risks due to their
smaller stature resulting in limited visibility
on the streets.
• Gender: Males accounted for 67% of
pedestrian fatalities, 88% of bicyclist
fatalities, and 77% of all traffic fatalities
citywide.
• Pedestrian Fatalities During Dark
Hours: Over the five-year period, 67% of
pedestrian fatalities occurred during dark
hours, peaking at 78% (18 of 23 pedestrian
fatalities) in 2021.

With pedestrians being the top fatality group
by street user type each of the past eleven
years, creating a plan to reduce pedestrian
fatalities was central to the 2020 Vision Zero
Action Plan. The resulting Walk Safe San José:

Pedestrian Safety Plan
8 is a top priority to
implement in the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan.
10 21 21
24 19
17 24
29 21
23 32
27 2
7 2 4 4
6 3
7 7
8 8
4 14
13 15
24 21
17 18 19 19 19
17 12
3 3
4 8
6 6 7
5 2
10 8 6
0 5
10 15
20 25
30 35
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Traffic Fatalities by Street User Type (2012 - 2023)
Pedestrian Bicyclist Motor Vehicle Occupant Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by Street User Type (2012 - 2023)
8 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/transportation/safety/vision-zero/walk-safe-san-jos Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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25 Safety Analysis
Speed Leads to Fatalities
and Severe Injuries
Speeding remains a major cause of fatal and severe
crashes on San José streets, making crashes more
dangerous and putting everyone at risk, especially those most vulnerable.
• Annual Trends: KSI crashes due to speeding as the
known primary collision factor peaked in 2021 (71
KSI). Although there was a slight reduction in total
KSI crashes in 2023, speeding remains a key concern,
contributing significantly to the fatality and severe
injury rates.
• Equity: Many neighborhoods with higher rates of
speed-related crashes are historically underserved
areas. Fourteen percent of citywide area is identified
as Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s
Equity Priority Communities, 48% of speed-related
crashes happened in these communities. Addressing
speeding in these communities aligns with equity
goals and ensures safer streets for everyone.
visionzeronetwork.org/speed

SPEED KILLS
Higher speeds increase a
driver’s reaction time &
braking distance
We will always face unpredictable,
urgent reasons to stop. The speed
we’re traveling can make the
difference between life and death.

Higher vehicle speeds significantly
increase likelihood of death
Our bodies can only tolerate so much physical
impact. Even small increases in vehicle speed
significantly escalate risk of severe injuries and
deaths.

System designers and policymakers can use
proven tools to encourage lower, safer speeds.

Where there is a mix of people walking, biking
and driving — 20 is plenty!
Likelihood of death for people
walking if hit at these speeds
Higher speeds reduce a
driver’s field of vision
Traveling at higher speeds
narrows your field of vision
as you drive, making it more
difficult to see and react to
people in the roadway.

Source: NACTO Urban Street Design Guide (2013)
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2015) Managing Speed for Safety
Understanding Why Speed Matters Most
Each year in the U.S., an estimated 46,000 people lose their lives in preventable traffic crashes. Each is someone’s friend, family member, classmate, or neighbor who will be deeply missed. These tragedies are disproportionately impacting people walking and bicycling, children, seniors, low-income community members, and people of color.

More than one-third of fatal crashes are speeding-related. The most significant way to prevent traffic deaths and severe injuries is to manage speed for safety. In this series, we’ll explain why speed matters most and how policymakers and roadway designers can prioritize safety over speed.

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8%
20%
46%
Higher vehicle speed
increases likelihood of
pedestrians deaths
20 MPH
30 MPH
40 MPH
Reaction distance Braking distance
164 ft
119 ft
63 ft
Reaction + Braking Distance
20 MPH
30 MPH
40 MPH
20 MPH
30 MPH
40 MPH
Source: AAA Foundation, Tefft, B.C. (2011)
Source: AAA Foundation, Tefft, B.C. (2011)
Likelihood of Death for People Walking
If Hit at These Speeds
visionzeronetwork.org/speed

System designers and policymakers can use
proven tools to encourage lower, safer speeds.

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8%
20%
46%
Higher vehicle speed
increases likelihood of
pedestrians deaths
20 MPH
30 MPH
40 MPH
Reaction distance Braking distance
164 ft
119 ft
63 ft
Reaction + Braking Distance
20 MPH
30 MPH
40 MPH
20 MPH
30 MPH
40 MPH
Source: AAA Foundation, Tefft, B.C. (2011)
Driver’s Field of Vision
at These Speeds
Source: NACTO Urban Street Design Guide (2013)
Reference: https://visionzeronetwork.org/resources/safety-over- speed/#:~:text=Higher%20vehicle%20speeds%20significantly%20 increase,of%20severe%20injuries%20and%20deaths.
• High Legal Speeds: More than 90% of the total mileage on San Jose ‘s PSC have a posted speed limit of 35 mph or higher. The likelihood of a pedestrian surviving a vehicle hit at the legal speed limit on the vast majority of these corridors is less than half.

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Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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26 Priority Safety Corridors: 2023 Update
San José’s Priority Safety Corridors (PSCs), also
known as the High Injury Network, represent
streets with the highest concentrations of
fatal and severe crashes, have been prioritized
for Quick Build safety improvement projects.

Established in 2017, the PSC originally included
17 corridors with focused resources to reduce
high-severity crashes.

For the 2023 PSC update, a revised
methodology was applied, following
recommendations from the Southern California
Association of Governments’s 2021 report,
Recommendations for California Statewide
Guidance on High Injury Network, to which
San José contributed. Fatal and severe injuries
were assigned three times the weight of other
injuries, while all other injuries (moderate and
minor) were weighted equally. The analysis was
based on five years of crash data (2017–2021).

The 2023 Priority Safety Corridor list now
includes 30 streets. Of these, 28 corridors
fall within San José’s jurisdiction, while
two fall fully within Santa Clara County’s
jurisdiction (expressways). Certain segments,
such as Blossom Hill Road, Camden Avenue,
McKee Road, Moorpark Avenue, and Stevens
Creek Boulevard, overlap with neighboring
jurisdictions, including the cities of Santa
Clara and Los Gatos, and Santa Clara County
(unincorporated).

Approximately 68% of the updated Priority
Safety Corridors are located within San José’s
Equity Priority Communities as defined by the
Metropolitan Transportation Commission. No
existing corridors were removed; instead, all
remain part of the updated network, pending
before-and-after project evaluations to confirm
reductions in fatal and severe crashes.

The estimated cost to complete the Quick Build
redesign of the remaining 2023 Priority Safety
Corridors is $26 million. Additional funding
would be required.

Safety Analysis
Quick Build Project - Outreach Poster
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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27 Safety Analysis
The 2023 Updated Priority
Safety Corridor network
expanded from 3% to 6% of San
José’s roadways, now covering
46% of fatal and severe crashes
and extending the network
from 70 to 150 miles.

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28 STRATEGY AND PROJECT SELECTIONS
The Strategy and Project Selections section provides a comprehensive array of interventions designed to address San José’s most critical traffic safety challenges.

Key Safety Initiatives and
Legislative Actions
The City has implemented key initiatives and legislative actions to address its two primary traffic safety challenges: (1) protecting vulnerable road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, and (2) mitigating the impact of speeding, a leading known cause of fatalities and severe injuries.

This section summarizes the categories recommended in the Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan. It also outlines the “Slow Down, San José” behavior change campaign launched in 2023 to reduce speeding through public awareness and highlights the implementation of a speed safety system pilot made possible by Assembly Bills 43 (Speed Limits) and 645 (Speed Cameras).

These targeted efforts represent San José’s commitment to addressing crash trends and improving roadway safety for all users.

Strategy and Project Selections
High Visibility Crosswalk: Patterned striping that is
more visible to drivers.

Reference: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/proven-safety- countermeasures/crosswalk-visibility-enhancements
Quick Build Pedestrian Refuge Island:

Reduces pedestrian crossing distance in
traffic.

Reference: https://nacto.org/publication/urban-street-
design-guide/intersection-design-elements/crosswalks-
and-crossings/pedestrian-safety-islands/
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29 Strategy and Project Selections
Implementing Walk Safe San José:

Pedestrian Safety Plan
In 2021, the San José 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 and was completed in 2024. It leveraged
big data and included extensive engagement
with vulnerable road users to identify key
locations where San José residents would most
benefit from pedestrian safety enhancements.

The plan resulted in the development of Quick
Build projects for eight focus areas, along with
strategies to improve access to transit, enhance
traffic signal timing, and address challenges
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.

Recommended Improvement
Categories
Traffic Signal Projects and Strategies to
Improve Pedestrian Safety
• Signal Design and Phasing
o Identify considerations for when to have
left turn before or after crosswalk phase.
o Prioritize Leading Pedestrian Interval
(LPI) implementation in study area
and set standards for LPI duration –
providing pedestrians a head start to
cross prior to vehicles receiving
green light.
o Adopt and/or develop a standard for
when to provide protected left turn
arrows.
o Develop guidelines for application of
fixed signal timing (same green time
every cycle).
o Pilot signal timing strategies to reduce
vehicle speeds and evaluate its
effectiveness.
o Develop a standard around appropriate
context for median refuge islands as an
opportunity to time two-stage signalized
crossings.

WSSJ: Coordination with VTA to test a
Quick Build pop-up demonstration project
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30 “ Wide crossing needs pedestrian refuge island. ” “ Lots of people run red lights, even when the pedestrian crossing light is on. ” “ All over San José is very dangerous as a pedestrian. ” - Community Input from Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan Outreach • Reduce Pedestrian Wait Times
o Minimize traffic signal cycle lengths
where feasible.
o Install pedestrian detection where
feasible.
• Reduce Signal Construction Costs
o Explore adoption of a signal standard
that is not frequently updated.

Safer Pedestrian Access to Transit
• Coordinate contact information and
organization charts with VTA.
• Create a project charter template, possibly
using the VTA format, for VTA/San José
projects.
• Create project-specific goals that align with
agency-specific goals and state those in
intergovernmental agreements.
• Rename the Bus Stop-Bikeway Integration
Meeting to “VTA-SJ DOT Design Integration
Meeting” to discuss bus stop relocation/
consolidation and pedestrian/bike safety
improvements.
• Data sharing (crash data specifically):

Analyze data to understand where
pedestrians and riders are getting injured
on their way from/to bus stops.

Pedestrian Quick Builds
• Coleman Avenue (Hedding Street to
Julian Street)
• Fourth Street (St. James Street to San
Fernando Street)
• Leigh Avenue (Cheney Drive to
Hamilton Avenue)
• Lincoln Avenue (Coe Avenue to
Minnesota Avenue)
• McLaughlin Avenue (Capitol Expressway to
Yerba Buena Road)
• Meridian Avenue (Hamilton Avenue to
Husted Avenue)
• Oakland Road (Montague Expressway to
US-101)
• Story Road (King Road to Clayton Road/
Meadow Lane)
An estimate of $6 million is needed to
implement Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian
Safety Plan Quick Build improvements.

Strategy and Project Selections
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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31 Navigating Urban Spaces: Citywide
Strategies
Improve Pedestrian Walking Space
Next to Construction Sites
• Prioritize pedestrians along construction
sites. Ensure overall comfort, safety,
and ADA compliance for pedestrians
of all abilities.
• Require signage around construction areas.
• Standardize details for a temporary traffic
control and safety plan, incorporating
measures for both bikes and pedestrians.
• Establish a system that penalizes
construction site owners when their
temporary measures do not comply with
City standards.
• Ensure pathways around construction sites
are clear of materials and debris.
• Establish standard hours of construction
and minimum duration for when a sidewalk
or bike lane can be impeded.

Improve Walking Conditions Under
Caltrans Elevated Freeways and at
on and off Ramps
• Coordinate with Caltrans on public
improvement projects and develop a joint
strategy to improve walking conditions in
challenging areas.
• Establish design solutions to create
functional and safe walking improvements.
• Activate spaces to make it more attractive
for users through pilot projects and/or
permanent design solutions.
• Engage the community to develop
concepts, programs, and culturally
appropriate ideas that will be beneficial
to the surrounding community.
“ Locations with right-turn slip lanes,-designated right turn lanes encourage drivers to speed through the turn without looking for other road users.

Recommend curb extensions in these locations. ”
- Community Input from Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan Outreach Strategy and Project Selections
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32 Channel Pedestrians Safely and
Comfortably Through Public and
Private Space
• Discuss with the Department of
Transportation and the Department
of Planning, Building, and Code
Enforcement about safety goals and
implementation strategies for public
and private spaces.
• Require and/or incentivize infill
development along major intersections
to channel pedestrians to safe crossing
locations.

Identify Key Cultural Destinations and Create
Destination Strategies Including Strategies for
Public and Private Partnership
• Reimagine parking lots, vacant lots,
and rights-of-way.
• Establish partnerships for creating destination
opportunities.
• Create a unified branding scheme with similar
colors, patterns, and traditions around popular
areas and cultural districts.
• Create Business Improvement Districts (BID) in key
districts to fund branding, creating destinations,
public-serving amenities,
and programming.
• Enhance existing transit stations by adding a mix
of “pedestrian-oriented” amenities that appeal
to more than just transit riders such as wide
and well-maintained sidewalks, clearly marked
crosswalks, good lighting, accessible pathways, etc.

Strategy and Project Selections
Public and Private Space at West Valley Fair:

Pedestrian circulation in private space on north side guides pedestrians safely through surface parking lots in a direct, separated, and clear walkway to the City’s crosswalks across Stevens Creek Boulevard.

Public and Private Space at Story Road and King Road: On the south side of Story Rd, gaps between mall buildings in privately owned space create diagonal pedestrian pathways that guide pedestrians from parking and private plazas to the City’s crosswalks across Story Road.

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33 Strategy and Project Selections

PRIORITY SAFETY CORRIDORS AND FOCUS AREAS
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Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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34 Advancing Speed Safety Through
Policy, Awareness, and Enforcement
San José is leveraging legislative tools and
public outreach to address speeding. Through
policies such as Assembly Bills (AB) 43 and 645
and initiatives like the “Slow Down, San José”
campaign, the City is implementing data-driven
strategies to address speeding and enhance
road safety. These efforts reflect a multifaceted
approach that combines speed management,
enforcement, and public education to create
safer streets for all.

AB 43 Speed Limits: Assembly Bill 43,
effective January 1, 2022, grants local
authorities greater flexibility to lower speed
limits on high-injury roadways, near vulnerable
populations, and in business districts. Utilizing
this authority, in June 2022, City Council
approved six 20 mph business activity districts,
including sections of Santa Clara Street,
Almaden Avenue, Post Street, Willow Street,
Jackson Street, and Evergreen Village Square.

The 20 mph signs were installed in September
2022. The Bill also permits extending
Engineering and Traffic Surveys up to 14 years
(previously 10 years) if no major changes to
roadway or traffic conditions are identified by a
traffic engineer. As a result, the City extended
the survey period for 130 roadway segments,
covering about 125.5 miles, and will resurvey
530 segments (approximately 500 miles) for
updated speed limits.

AB 645 Speed Cameras: In October
2023, the California State Legislature passed
Assembly Bill 645, granting the City of San José
the authority to pilot an automated Speed
Safety System. San José will be one of only
six cities authorized to establish and operate
a Speed Safety System Pilot Program under
specific conditions and guidelines outlined in
the Bill. This major new program will begin
under the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan.
“Slow Down, San José” Behavior
Change Campaign: Vision Zero San José
launched a citywide campaign in 2023 to
spread the word about the impact of speeding
and actions we all can take to make our
streets safer. A public opinion poll of 800 San
Jose residents conducted before and after
this campaign revealed that 68% of San José
residents support the use of speed cameras
to improve street safety. The polling showed
an even distribution of support across the city.

Additionally, the survey showed that 68% to
79% of residents of color support the use of
the cameras.

Strategy and Project Selections
Attachment A
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35 5 Priority Action Areas
Prioritize Equity,
Vulnerable Road Users
Center Data Analytics,
Report Metrics
Strategize Traffic
Enforcement
Engineer for Safety
Engage the Community,
Message Safety
1 2
3 4
5 Achieving Vision Zero’s goal requires
a sustained long-term commitment.

Using data analysis, best practices, and
stakeholder input, the City developed five
Priority Action Areas, each with objectives,
deliverables, and a project list. These
projects and strategies embody the Safe
System Approach, prioritizing infrastructure,
behavioral, and operational safety
solutions. Each deliverable is assessed and
categorized into short-, mid-, and long-term
timeframes, ensuring a phased approach to
implementation that aligns with resource
availability and community needs.

These Priority Action Areas were carefully
reviewed by the Vision Zero Task Force and
the public, with City staff incorporating
feedback to ensure the strategies reflect
community priorities and safety goals.

Timeframe:

Short term 1-2 ye ars
Mid term 2-5 ye ars
Long term 5+ year s
Walk N’ Roll Program: Bike rodeo
Strategy and Project Selections
Adult Traffic Safety Education Program
at San José Public Library
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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36 Priority Action Area 1:

Prioritize Equity, Vulnerable Road Users
The Priority Action Area for this Plan focuses
on equity and protecting the most vulnerable
users of our street network. The City of San
José defines equity as “fairness and justice in
policy, practice, and opportunity consciously
designed to address the distinct challenges of
non-dominant social groups, with an eye to
equitable outcomes.”
9 Equity is at the heart of Vision Zero. Most of
our Priority Safety Corridors travel through
parts of San José identified as Equity Priority
Communities. The Metropolitan Transportation
Commission notes that these census
tracts “have a significant concentration of
underserved populations, such as households
with low incomes and people of color.”
10 The
strong correlation between these underserved
neighborhoods and streets with a history
of high traffic fatalities and severe injuries
demands focused action to improve traffic
safety for these communities.

By focusing on the most vulnerable users in
these and other neighborhoods in San José,
we can improve traffic safety for all users of
the road. Our strategies include installing
safety measures near high-risk locations for
pedestrians, implementing recommendations
from the Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety
Plan, and adding and improving disability-
focused infrastructure such as curb ramps.

We acknowledge the long history of
government neglect in Equity Priority
Communities. As such, it is vital that we start
by fostering deeper community engagement.

We must work with community leaders and
meet residents in the venues they already go
to and the events they already attend. We
must consistently provide non-English language
support at meetings. And we must also be
diligent about considering the negative impacts
our well-intentioned efforts might have and
mitigating them to the extent possible.

Together, these infrastructure and engagement
efforts prioritize the safety of people of
color, low-income households, older adults,
unhoused individuals, bicyclists, pedestrians,
school-aged children, and other vulnerable
groups. Protecting these groups can reduce
fatalities and enhance safe mobility for all.
9 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/office-of-the-city-manager/ racial-equity/racial-equity-resources/racial-equity-glossary 10 https://mtc.ca.gov/planning/transportation/access-equity-mobility/equity-priority-communities Strategy and Project Selections
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Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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37 Objectives:
• Prioritize resources to areas with high fatal and severe injuries for project planning and delivery, and grant applications, especially in areas with the highest equity scores of San José Equity Atlas.
11 • Improve safety at locations where vulnerable road users are experiencing fatal and severe injury crashes.
• Provide accessibility improvements (e.g., audible pedestrian signals, Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA] transition plan, ADA ramps, trail access). • Reduce pedestrian fatalities and injury crashes.
• Enhance mobility for all road users, especially vulnerable road users.

Deliverables:
• Implement street safety pilots near hotspot locations involving vulnerable road users. • Implement Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan (WSSJ) recommendations. • Improve roadway accessibility.
• Provide interpreters at community meetings for engagement when needed. 11 https://gis.sanjoseca.gov/maps/equityatlas/
WSSJ: Engagement with Vietnamese-
speaking older adults at the
Vietnamese American Cultural Center
WSSJ: Quick Build pop-up
demonstration event
Engagement with people experiencing
homelessness
Strategy and Project Selections
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Equity Projects/Strategies Timeline
Focus on Vulnerable Road Users: Identify and improve top five fatal and severe injury locations for older adults Short/Mid
Focus on Vulnerable Road Users: Identify and improve top five fatal and severe injury locations for people experiencing homelessness Short/Mid Implement Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan (WSSJ) :

Pedestrian Quick Builds Mid/Long
Implement WSSJ : Signal design and phasing Long
Implement WSSJ : Signals: Reduce pedestrian wait times (citywide strategy) Long Implement WSSJ : Reduce signal construction cost Long
Implement WSSJ : Maintain pedestrian walking space next to construction sites Long Implement WSSJ : Improve walking conditions under Caltrans elevated freeways and at on- and off-ramps Long
Implement WSSJ : Channel pedestrians safely through public and private space Long Implement WSSJ : Create pedestrian destinations Long
Maintain Bikeway: buy more narrow street sweepers to enable street sweeping in Quick Build and protected bike lanes Long
Collaborate with other city and county government entities to encourage them to buy city fleet vehicles with better pedestrian collision safety standards Long Strategy and Project Selections38
Protected Bike Lane: Painted buffer with bollards
provides visible separation and more comfort for cyclists.

Reference: https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/local- assistance/documents/hsip/2024/lrsm2024-v2.pdf
Hardened Centerline: Prevents turning vehicles from
crossing centerline, resulting in slower turn speeds.

Reference: https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/safety- programs/documents/ped-bike/caltrans-ped-safety-countermeasures- toolbox-a11y.pdf
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Strategy and Project Selections 39
San José Vision Zero employs a data-driven approach to ensure that safety interventions are informed by the specific needs and characteristics of underserved communities. Using resources like the San José Equity Atlas and current demographic data, the City identifies areas with the highest concentration of people of color and low-income households with darker purple color on the map. These communities frequently experience higher risks of traffic injuries and fatalities, partly due to historical disparities in infrastructure design.

Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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40 Priority Action Area 2:

Center Data Analytics, Report Metrics
Data analytics play a critical role in
understanding and addressing traffic safety
issues effectively. This focuses on leveraging
data to enhance accountability, evaluate
project outcomes, and guide evidence-based
safety strategies. The City will build upon the
data work from the past five years, continuing
to use data in decision-making processes
to ensure that projects and strategies are
informed by real-time, actionable insights.

Before-and-after project evaluations provide
essential insights into the effectiveness of
safety interventions, ensuring resources are
used effectively and enabling adjustments to
future projects based on evidence. Expanding
data sharing with hospitals for trauma injury
data, VTA for light rail crash information, and
neighboring jurisdictions strengthens San José’s
ability to identify high-risk locations and trends.

These collaborations offer a more complete
understanding of where and why fatal and
severe injuries occur, allowing for targeted
safety improvements. By improving public-
facing dashboards, creating tracking metrics,
and fostering transparency through regular
reporting, this Priority Action Area ensures
informed decision-making and builds public
trust in San José’s Vision Zero initiatives.

Objectives:
• Increase accountability.
• Understand project effectiveness.
• Expand data to better understand where fatal and severe injuries are occurring. • Collaborate for data sharing: Trauma injury data from hospitals, light rail crashes and injuries, neighboring jurisdictions.
• Improve and regularly update public facing data dashboards. • Implement evidence-based strategies and policies.

Deliverables:
• Report findings from before/after project evaluations. • Create metrics for tracking progress of 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan, such as reductions in fatal and severe injuries, the number of safety projects implemented, community engagement participation rates, improvements in travel speed compliance, etc. • Report key metrics twice per year.
• Collaborate for data sharing agreement with county agencies (EMS, VTA). • Utilize trauma injury data in data analysis.
• Develop and maintain new public facing crash data dashboards.

Strategy and Project Selections
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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Data/Metrics Projects/Strategies Timeline
Create user-friendly public-facing dashboards, available in multiple languages Short Increase transparency, report metrics Short
Report findings from before/after project evaluations Short Collaborate for data sharing: Trauma injury data from hospitals Mid Collaborate for data sharing: Light rail crashes and injuries Mid Collaborate for data sharing: Other shared jurisdiction data Mid In 2023, San José Vision Zero took further steps by publishing the first analysis of traffic fatalities among people experiencing homelessness on the City’s Open Data Portal, marking a pioneering effort to raise awareness and drive targeted safety initiatives. This report was included in a September 2024 Federal Highway Administration case study, highlighting San José’s commitment to addressing this critical equity issue.

Promising Practices to Address Road Safety among People Experiencing Homelessness. September 2024. https:// highways.dot.gov/safety/zero-deaths/promising-practices-address-road-safety-among-peopleexperiencing- homelessness
41 Strategy and Project Selections
Day vs. Night: 82% of
unhoused traffic fatalities
occurred at night
82% of unhoused traffic fatalities
occurred at night (5pm - 8am)
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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42 Priority Action Area 3:

Strategize Traffic Enforcement
In Vision Zero, Enforcement refers to the use
of strategic, data-driven efforts to address
dangerous driving behaviors that contribute to
severe crashes. In San José, this Priority Action
Area focuses on addressing the top three
known violations leading to fatal and severe
injuries: speeding, unsafe turn movements,
and red-light running.

A key initiative under this action area is the
implementation of automated enforcement
programs, including the Speed Safety System
Pilot authorized by Assembly Bill 645 and
a Red-Light Camera Pilot . The speed safety
camera program will deploy 33 cameras over
five years, while the red-light camera pilot will
target four high-risk intersections for one year.

These programs aim to reduce crash severity
and improve compliance with traffic laws. Their
effectiveness will be assessed through before-
and-after studies to guide future decisions on
automated enforcement.

By leveraging technology, analyzing
enforcement data, and aligning efforts with
the Safe System Approach, this Priority Action
Area ensures that enforcement strategies are
precise, equitable, and focused on preventing
fatal and severe crashes. Regular reporting
on enforcement metrics and violations will
enhance transparency and accountability in
achieving Vision Zero goals.

Objectives:
• Inform traffic enforcement using top three known violations that leads to fatal and severe injury crashes.
• Implement speed cameras (Assembly Bill 645).
• Implement red light cameras.
• Strategize enforcement using data driven enforcement efforts. • Utilize technology to enhance enforcement capabilities.

Deliverables:
• Report on top 3 traffic citations annually (SJPD).
• Implement 33 speed cameras (5-year pilot).
• Implement red light running cameras at 4 intersections (1-year pilot). • Conduct before/after study of camera programs’ effectiveness.

Strategy and Project Selections
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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Traffic Enforcement Projects/Strategies Timeline
Report on top three known traffic violations that result in fatal and severe injuries Short Implement automated enforcement: Speed Safety System Pilot (SS4A demonstration project)
Short
Implement automated enforcement: Red-Light Camera Pilot Short Conduct before/after studies of automated enforcement pilots Mid Better coordination to share Traffic Investigations Unit (TIU) reports Mid/Long 43 Strategy and Project Selections
Walk N’ Roll Program: Safety event with SJPD, Ledesma Elementary, and the Basking Ridge Neighborhood Association Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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44 Priority Action Area 4:

Engineer for Safety
Engineering improvements are essential to
creating safer, more accessible streets for all
users. Engineering refers to the design and
modification of roadways and infrastructure to
eliminate traffic-related fatalities and severe
injuries. Engineering solutions play a critical
role in creating safer streets by addressing
roadway issues, traffic flow, and the interaction
between various road users. This Priority Action
Area focuses on enhancing infrastructure with
the goal of reducing crash severity through
innovative, data-driven engineering strategies.

San José’s 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan
emphasizes the urgent need to deliver more
safety projects, more efficiently. The Vision
Zero Task Force has stressed the importance of
ensuring safety improvements are implemented
quickly where they are most needed. A key
focus is the implementation of the Vision Zero
Quick Build Program , using temporary, low-
cost interventions that can be rapidly deployed
and tested in high-injury areas. These Quick
Build projects, such as protected bike lanes
and protected intersections, help reduce crash
risk and serve as models for future permanent
improvements. However, the goal is to transition
these Quick Builds to permanent solutions
using durable materials after conducting before-
and-after project evaluations, ensuring that the
most effective interventions are fully integrated
into the city’s infrastructure.

Critical to this approach is the need for
protected intersections , which provide safer
crossings for pedestrians and bicyclists,
particularly in areas with high traffic volumes.

These improvements may be funded through a
combination of city resources, state or federal
grants, and private development projects.

This Priority Action Area underscores the
importance of quick implementation, continuous
evaluation, and strategic investment in
engineering solutions that protect all road
users, from pedestrians to drivers. Through
these efforts, San José aims to make lasting
improvements that reduce fatalities and severe
injuries, moving closer to the goal of Vision Zero.

The integration of protected intersections into new developments and as retrofits in existing areas is essential to creating a safer, more equitable transportation system.

Converting Quick Builds to permanent materials requires significant investment, and additional funding will be needed to ensure these improvements are sustainable and expanded throughout the city such as through grants, developments, public-private partnerships, and regional funding programs, etc.

Strategy and Project Selections
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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45 Objectives:
• Continue and expand the Vision Zero Quick
Build Program.
• Enhance pedestrian safety through targeted
infrastructure and programmatic initiatives.
• Advance capital improvement projects that
prioritize safety and accessibility.
• Develop and implement controlled
crosswalks near bus stop pairs on Priority
Safety Corridors to enhance pedestrian
safety by incorporating features, such as
traffic signals, flashing beacons, or stop
signs to manage vehicle flow and ensure
safe crossing.
• Strengthen safety measures around schools.
• Establish a comprehensive review process
for traffic fatalities and severe injuries.
• Partner with Santa Clara County Roads and
Airports to address safety at the top City-
County severe injury locations.
• Utilize data-driven approaches to
implement Quick Build and capital safety
projects effectively.
• Identify, benchmark, and incorporate
best practices and innovative engineering
Strategy and Project Selections
solutions from other cities and countries.
• Optimize signal timing to reduce pedestrians’
and cyclists’ conflicts.

Deliverables:
• Street Safety Improvements
o 1200 traffic safety requests/studies per year.
o 15 bikeway project miles per year.
o All traffic fatalities reviewed.
o 35 pedestrian safety and traffic calming
projects per year.
o 4 Vision Zero Quick Build projects per year.
o 150+ signal safety projects.
o Daylight crosswalks (2023 Assembly Bill 413)
on Priority Safety Corridors and at schools.
• K-12 School Safety Improvements
o 35 access/circulation studies and
improvements per year.
o 100 high-visibility school crosswalks per year.
• Monitor Street Safety Bills
o Lower speed limit (2021 AB 43): business
activity district analyses, 130 roadway
segments (about 125 miles) extension to 14
years, 530 roadway segments (about 500
miles) being resurveyed for speed limit.

Permanent Protected Intersection
at Park Avenue and Almaden Boulevard
Quick Build Protected Intersection
at S 4th Street and San Fernando Street
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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Engineering Projects/Strategies Timeline
Maintain existing Quick Build implementations Sort
Conduct traffic safety studies Short
Implement pavement projects Short
Review traffic fatalities and implement safety improvements Short Implement Vision Zero Priority Safety Corridor redesigns in Quick Build Short Conduct signal safety evaluations Short
Deliver more projects: traffic calming, pedestrian projects, walk audits* Short/Mid Implement school safety projects: High-visibility crosswalks, access/circulation improvements Short/Mid
Implement high visibility school crosswalks citywide Short/Mid Build bike lanes: implement Better Bike Plan 2025 Short/Mid Implement pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects Short/Mid Build projects quicker: implement Quick Build and capital projects faster and in high-KSI locations* Short/Mid
Lower speed limits Mid
Implement Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan : Quick Builds* Mid/Long Review severe traffic injuries* Mid/Long
Daylight crosswalks: keep the areas at crosswalks approaches clear of parked cars, signs, or other obstacles* Mid/Long
Deliver signal safety projects Mid/Long
Build protected intersections Mid/Long
Implement Vision Zero improvements as part of pavement project Mid/Long Collaborate with the County to apply for grants for Priority Safety Corridor – County Expressway (e.g., Almaden Expressway and Foxworthy Avenue: signal modification, responding to traffic fatality) and to remove slip lanes where feasible Long
Convert Quick Build to permanent materials via grant applications: SS4A, Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC), MTC One Bay Area Grant (OBAG), CA Active Transportation Program (ATP), and other programs*
Long
46 Strategy and Project Selections
Curb Extension to increase
the overall visibility of
pedestrians, create safer
and shorter crossing, allow
large trucks to turn while
keeping car turns slow.

Reference: https://nacto.org/
publication/urban-street-design-
guide/street-design-elements/curb-
extensions/
Daylight Crosswalk by prohibiting parking to
improve safety at intersections
Reference: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/
billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB413
* Additional Staff Needed. In addition, an estimate of $6 million is needed to implement Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan Quick Build improvements.

Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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47 Hardened Median
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon
(RRFB):

High Visibility Crosswalk:

Pedestrian Refuge Island
Hardened Centerline:

Protected Bike Lane:

Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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48 Priority Action Area 5:

Engage the Community, Message Safety
Community engagement and education
are central to building awareness and
fostering a culture of safety. In Vision Zero,
Engagement refers to the active involvement
of the community in traffic safety initiatives,
ensuring that all road users are informed and
empowered to contribute to safer streets.

This Priority Action Area builds on existing
programs, such as safety education in the
Walk N’ Roll program, and continues to expand
efforts to raise traffic safety awareness. The City
will engage the community through campaigns
like “Slow Down, San José” and the promotion
of Street Safety Awareness months, focusing
on distracted driving, pedestrian safety, and
visibility during darker months. Targeted
outreach will be conducted through schools,
community events, and partnerships with
organizations serving vulnerable road users,
including older adults, school-aged children,
and people experiencing homelessness.

The City will also focus on educating the public
about the purpose and benefits of newly
implemented safety projects and pilots, such
as the Speed Safety System Pilot , ensuring that
community members understand how these
changes will improve their safety.

Building trust and connection with the
community is central to these efforts.

By partnering with organizations serving
vulnerable road users, conducting transparent
outreach, and using platforms like educational
videos and changeable message signs, San José
aims to strengthen relationships with residents.

This ongoing dialogue helps foster support for
safety projects and encourages safer behaviors
across all road user groups, while ensuring that
all voices are heard and considered in the City’s
Vision Zero work.

Walk N’ Roll Program: School safety education - helmet fitting Strategy and Project Selections
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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49 Objectives:
• Increase public awareness of traffic safety issues, projects, and programs. • Engage community for speed camera and red-light running camera deployments: city and region. • Promote street safety awareness month campaigns, and awareness of darker months. o April: Distracted Driving
o October: Pedestrian Safety
o November-March: Look Out When It’s Dark Out
• Provide traffic safety education.
o School aged children
o Older adults
o People experiencing homelessness
• Conduct safety engagement work at schools, community events, and through Walk N’ Roll. • Coordinate with organizations serving vulnerable road users when injury uptrends are observed. • Explain the purpose and benefits of safety projects (“How do I use this?”) after they are built. • Continue “Slow Down, San José” campaign.
• Encourage safer driving and mindful behavior for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Deliverables:
• Deploy Changeable Message Signs with safety messages.* • Engage community for speed camera and red-light running camera deployments. • Reach out to 10,000 adults per year receiving traffic safety education. • Reach out to 25,000 children ages 5-17 (K-12) per year receiving traffic safety education. • Create 5 educational videos online explaining projects that have already been built.* • Partner with stakeholders on a pedestrian and bicyclist safety campaign.* Changeable Message Signs displaying safety messages,
along with coordination efforts with SJPD
to support enforcement activities
Strategy and Project Selections
* Pending Additional Funding
San José Department of Transportation’s Director, John Ristow, engaging with residents at a ribbon-cutting event for a pedestrian safety enhancement project
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Messaging Projects/Strategies Timeline
Engage community about automated enforcement: Speed Safety System Pilot Short Deploy changeable message signs Short
Promote street safety awareness months: Pedestrian Safety (October), Look Out when It’s Dark Out (November-March annually), Distracted Driving (April) Short Provide safety education: school-aged children (Walk N’ Roll) Short Provide safety education: adults Short
Provide safety education: people experiencing homelessness Short Create videos educating people about recently built projects Short/Mid Partner with BPAC on bike/pedestrian safety education Mid Promote safety messages about rail safety Long
50 Walk N’ Roll Program:

School safety education -
bicycle safer journey
Strategy and Project Selections
Ribbon Cutting Event:

Jackson Avenue and Woodset Lane
pedestrian safety enhancement project
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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51 Prioritization Criteria
San José DOT uses a custom-built software
solution called the Decision Support System
(DSS) to analyze projects for their potential
to meet our mobility, equity, climate change,
and safety goals, among others. The DSS
uses “big data” and the key performance
indicators (KPIs) from our Move San José
transportation plan to understand changing
conditions.
12 This helps us pick the best
strategies and projects to address issues in
our transportation system and track how
they change conditions over time.

The DSS lets us define, evaluate, and
prioritize projects based on their potential
impact to each KPI. In its current form, the
DSS functions as an effective evaluation
system. It scores the existing performance
of each KPI at the census tract level. We
are currently working with consultants to
develop a more robust, upgraded version
of the DSS (2.0). DSS 2.0 will be able to
fully track planned projects, monitor
performance of key indicators, and forecast
outcomes of a project or strategy.

DSS 2.0 will also be able to predict potential
changes in each KPI throughout the city because
of an individual project. This KPI change will
present a detailed perspective of disparities
throughout the city. This knowledge will help San
José staff prioritize projects that offer a more
targeted, tailored, and impactful approach based
on the City’s goals.

Transportation Safety is one of nine goals defined
in Move San José. As such, the DSS comprises
a set of KPIs devoted to personal safety among
the most vulnerable users. San José uses the
DSS to inform how safe different parts of the city
currently are for vulnerable users like pedestrians
and bicyclists. DSS 2.0 will let us gauge the
incremental impact of Vision Zero and other
safety projects on these safety KPIs and help
prioritize future work.

We will use the DSS to evaluate the projects and
strategies in this Plan. Recommendations from
the DSS will be considered along with community
input, funding availability, and project feasibility
to help us develop a more fine-grained, prioritized
implementation plan.

Strategy and Project Selections
12 https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/transportation/projects-planning/move-san-jos Attachment A
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52 Strategy and Project Selections
Implementation Teams
The Vision Zero Action Plan is supported
by a network of dedicated teams within
San José’s DOT, working collaboratively to
enhance road safety across the city. The DOT
Safety team leads several core programs,
including the Fatality Review Board, Pedestrian
Safety Enhancement, Neighborhood Traffic
Management, School Safety, and Walk Safe
San José, all aimed at reducing traffic fatalities
and severe injuries and improving accessibility
for all road users. Additionally, specialized
programs like Walk N’ Roll and safety education
initiatives focus on outreach to vulnerable
populations, including children, the unhoused,
and older adults.

To ensure comprehensive safety improvements,
DOT collaborates with teams involved in active
transportation planning, capital improvement,
pavement program, and development projects.

These efforts are complemented by grant
administration, policy development, and
legislative advocacy, alongside critical functions
in signal design and operations. Together,
these teams deliver a coordinated approach
to implementing the Vision Zero Action Plan’s
priorities, ensuring that safety interventions
are integrated throughout San José’s
transportation system.

Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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53 Progress, Transparency, Accountability

PROGRESS, TRANSPARENCY ,

ACCOUNTABILITY
San José Vision Zero is committed to
maintaining transparency and accountability
by tracking and publicly sharing progress
toward eliminating roadway fatalities and
severe injuries. This 2025 Vision Zero Action
Plan outlines a comprehensive framework for
monitoring, evaluating, and reporting results
to ensure residents and stakeholders can
follow the City’s progress in achieving safer
streets for all.

To facilitate ongoing transparency, interactive
dashboards will be available on the Vision Zero
website, allowing residents and stakeholders
to view data on progress and project
accomplishments. These dashboards will serve
as a central resource for tracking the City’s
Vision Zero achievements and understanding
the beneficial impact of Vision Zero initiatives
on community safety.

Regular updates will also be presented twice
annually to the T&E Committee and the
Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
(BPAC), ensuring that both City leadership and
community representatives can provide direct
input on recent data and project milestones.

Additionally, San José Vision Zero will perform
one-year and two-year before-and-after
evaluations of completed safety projects to
measure of their effectiveness in reducing
traffic crashes.

By fostering an open dialogue with residents,
community partners, and city stakeholders, San
José Vision Zero strives to ensure that progress is
measurable, transparent, and timely. This approach
enables a collective commitment to a safer San José,
holding the City accountable to its Vision Zero goals
and strengthening trust with the communities it
serves.

An additional $26 million is the projected need to
complete Quick Build redesign for the remaining of
2023 Priority Safety Corridors, as well as $6 million
to implement Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety
Plan Quick Build improvements. To deliver all projects
and strategies of the five Priority Action Areas in
the 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan, the identified
potential funding need would be about $80 million
for short-term improvements and $4 billion in total.

This funding is essential to ensure the successful
execution of key initiatives, including infrastructure
improvements, safety education programs, data-
driven enforcement strategies, and equity-focused
interventions. Achieving these goals will depend on
securing adequate resources from grants, public and
private funding, and local investments.

San José Vision Zero Data Dashboard
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54 Getting Involved

GETTING INVOLVED
Community involvement is essential to the success of San José’s Vision Zero Action Plan implementation. Residents can contribute by participating in public meetings, sharing feedback on proposed projects, and staying informed through the Vision Zero website and public dashboards. Join educational events, such as Walk N’ Roll programs or safety workshops, to learn more about traffic safety and how to advocate for safer streets in your neighborhood. Community members can also engage with the San José Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) or volunteer with local organizations supporting Vision Zero initiatives including: the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition (SVBC) San José team, San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets, and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) San José. Together, we can create a safer, more equitable transportation system for everyone.

Walk N’ Roll Program: Viva EscuelaSJ event
Attachment A
Subject: 2025 Vision Zero Action Plan

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55 Contact List
SAN JOSÉ DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION CONTACT LIST
Local Street Safety Improvements
408-535-3850
[email protected]
Pothole Repair and
Pavement Maintenance
408-794-1900
[email protected]
Parking Enforcement
408-277-8900
[email protected]
San José Police Department
Traffic Enforcement
408-277-4341
www.sjpd.org/TEU
All Other San José Service Requests
311
311.sanjoseca.gov
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Attachment B

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VISION ZERO IN SAN JOSE: 10 YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Since adopting Vision Zero in 2015, San José has employed a multidisciplinary approach to improving street safety and work towards eliminating traffic KSI. San José’s major accomplishments over the first 10 years of Vision Zero (2015-2024) include:

• Committed City Funding: $13.4 million for the 2020 Vision Zero Action Plan. • Grant Awards: San José has been awarded over $100 million since 2019, including the new United States Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant twice, funding two crucial safety efforts:
o Four intersection redesigns where some of the highest fatal and severe injury crashes occurred.
o Began planning and implementation of citywide five-year speed camera pilot. • Physical Improvements:
o 848 leading pedestrian intervals, which allow pedestrians more time to cross while adjacent vehicles still have a red light, increasing pedestrian visibility and reducing conflicts.
o 41,100 streetlight upgrades to brighter and more energy efficient LED. o 218 miles of bike lanes installed
 96 miles of standard bike lanes;
 68 miles of bike routes with sharrows;
 16 miles of bike boulevards; and
 38 miles of separated bikeways.
o 352 signal safety improvement projects.
• Rapid Adoption: 2018 Better Bikeways project redesigned much of downtown San José near City Hall and San José State University and included collaboration with National Association of City Transportation Officials, pioneered protected intersection designs to install protected bikeway, created slower intersection turns for vehicles, and provided shorter pedestrian crossing distances. • Focused Investments:
o $9.3 million dedicated to Quick Build roadway redesigns; o Capital improvement projects (six on Priority Safety Corridors); and o Created Vision Zero Quick Build project team dedicated to redesign of Priority Safety Corridors.
• Legislative Wins:
o 2021 Assembly Bill (AB) 43 – tools to lower speed limits; o 2023 AB 645 – speed (camera) safety system pilot;
o 2023 AB 251 – vehicle weight study;
o 2023 AB 361 – photographs of bicycle parking violations; and o 2024 SB 960 – requires Caltrans to prioritize road improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders.
• Branding and Education:
o New logo for Vision Zero program;
o “Slow Down, San José” roadway behavior change campaign; o Promoted speed reduction safety;
Attachment B

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o Provided safety education to 145 schools, including 13 Viva EscuelaSJ events, and created suggested walking/biking route maps for 30 schools since 2020;
o Provided safety education events to approximately 3,000 people experiencing homelessness since 2020;
o Promoted street safety awareness months: Pedestrian Safety (October), Look Out when It’s Dark Out (November-March annually), Distracted Driving (April); and
o Deployed changeable message signs with safety messages during street safety awareness months.
• Public Engagement: A public opinion poll conducted for the City’s “Slow Down San José” campaign revealed that 68% of San José residents support the use of speed cameras to improve street safety. The polling showed an even distribution of support across the city. Additionally, the survey showed that 68 - 79% of residents of color support the use of the cameras. • Fatality Review: Evaluation of every San José traffic fatality crash report to identify crash factors, develop design recommendations, and pursue implementation.
• Data Driven Decision Making: Created crash data dashboards and worked with companies to create innovative near-miss crash detection systems to collect data about vulnerable road users at and near intersections. • Walk Safe San José: Pedestrian Safety Plan (2024): Complements Priority Safety Corridor redesigns with input on how pedestrians use streets, from big data and an Equity Steering Committee.
• Advancing Equity in Transportation Safety: Pioneered research into traffic fatalities involving people experiencing homelessness, which was incorporated into a 2024 U.S. Federal Highway Administration Case Study on Roadway Safety Equity.

Attachment C

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PRIORITY SAFETY CORRIDORS AND FOCUS AREAS

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SAFETY ANALYSIS

The Action Plan includes a comprehensive safety analysis to identify crash trends, high- risk locations, and contributing factors. The City of San José has identified three major crash trends.

1. People Walking and Biking Are Most Vulnerable: People walking and biking remain disproportionately vulnerable to traffic-related KSI in San José. From 2019 to 2023, crashes involving people walking and biking made up approximately 11% of total crashes, yet they represented well over half of traffic fatalities (59%).

2. Speed Leads to Fatalities and Severe Injuries: Speeding remains a major cause of KSI crashes on San José streets, making crashes more dangerous and putting everyone at risk, especially the most vulnerable. KSI crashes due to speeding peaked in 2021 (71 KSI). Although there was a slight reduction in total KSI crashes in 2023, speeding remains a top KSI concern.

3. Priority Safety Corridors: 2023 Update: San José’s Priority Safety Corridors, also known as the High Injury Network, represent streets with the highest concentrations of fatal and severe injury crashes and have been prioritized for Quick Build safety improvement projects. Established in 2017, the Priority Safety Corridors originally included 17 corridors with focused resources to reduce high- severity crashes. The 2023 Priority Safety Corridor list now includes 30 streets.

Approximately 68% of the updated Priority Safety Corridors are located within San José’s Equity Priority Communities, as defined by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Since establishing the Quick Build Priority Safety Corridor redesign team in 2020, over $4 million has been spent on approximately 20 miles of Quick Build improvements. The estimated unfunded cost to complete Quick Build improvements along the remaining 2023 Priority Safety Corridors is $26 million.

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PRIORITY ACTION AREAS

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San Jose City CouncilFebruary 25, 2025

San Jose City Council
February 25, 2025