Stamford Launches Vision Zero Initiative To Increase Roadway Safety

STAMFORD, CT — In an effort to eliminate traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries, the city of Stamford is launching a Vision Zero initiative.

Mayor Caroline Simmons signed an executive order on Tuesday outside of the Stamford Government Center to establish the campaign, which has a goal of eliminating fatalities and severe injuries on Stamford's roadways by 2032.

Vision Zero was first implemented in Sweden in the 1990's, and it swept across Europe and is now a popular strategy in major American cities.

On Tuesday, Simmons was joined by traffic and public safety officials to discuss the new initiative.

Acting Director of Public Safety, Health and Welfare for Stamford, Lou DeRubeis, said that from Jan. 1, 2017, through Aug, 31, 2022, there have been 22,622 total crashes reported within Stamford, with 459 involving a pedestrian.

In 2021, Stamford averaged seven pedestrian crashes per month. This year, there have been four fatal crashes; two involved pedestrians. This is the highest number of fatal crashes since 2017.

Most recently, on Sept. 14, a Norwalk couple was hospitalized after they were hit by a car at the intersection of Bedford Street at Broad Street.

"We all need to do better," DeRubeis said, calling Vision Zero a bold initiative. He expressed confidence in the city's goal to reduce injuries and fatalities over the next 10 years.

DeRubeis went on to say that the campaign will be specifically tailored to Stamford. It will incorporate engineering, enforcement and a comprehensive public outreach and education campaign that targets all roadway users.

Simmons outlined the tasks for the city, saying Vision Zero will:

1. Establish a Vision Zero Task Force, composed of a Technical Advisory Committee and a Community Advisory Committee, to develop and publish a Vision Zero Action Plan
2. Components of this plan will allow for the adoption of roadway safety in the planning, design, and construction of roadways; and recommendations to reduce speeding
3. Ensure that traditionally under-resourced and underserved communities are thoughtfully included in the plan’s development

"Our streets are the foundation of our community, connecting our neighborhoods and all of us as residents to everything wonderful our city has to offer. Unfortunatley, we've seen a rise both here in Stamford and nationwide in traffic-related fatalities and injuries," Simmons said.

"This Vision Zero initiative is a multidisciplinary approach that will include establishing a Vision Zero Task Force, and developing a Vision Zero action plan with recommendations for the adoption of roadway safety in the planning, design and construction of our roadways and recommendations to reduce speeding citywide," Simmons added.

The task force, which will be made up of technical advisors, transportation and engineering officials, as well as public safety officials and community advocates, is expected to be formed over the coming weeks.

Funding for the initiative will be a mixture of local, state and federal funds. Simmons said participating in Vision Zero will allow Stamford to be eligible for federal grant money, as the U.S. Department of Transportation is emphasizing Vision Zero planning as part of its criteria for grants.

Simmons noted that the city recently applied for a $20 million Safe Streets For All grant for the Strawberry Hill corridor. She said Stamford also secured $2 million for the West Main Street corridor project — both projects aim to enhance pedestrian safety and equitable mobility for all, Simmons said.

Frank Petise, bureau chief of the Stamford Transportation, Traffic and Parking Department, will help oversee Vision Zero.

He said his department has already followed aspects of Vision Zero. He pointed to the Summer Street Promenade project as an example of the city's commitment to pedestrian vehicular safety.

Petisr said Vision Zero takes "a holistic view of our roadways by using a safe systems approach."

There are five principles that Vision Zero is based on:

1. Deaths and serious injuries caused by traffic crashes are preventable;
2. Human life and health should be prioritized in all transportation systems and in all aspects of transportation planning and design;
3. Human error is inevitable and transportation systems should be forgiving;
4. Transportation planning should focus on systems-level changes about influencing individual behavior; and,
5. Speed is the single most important factor in crash severity

Simmons said the entire city needs to do better in order to prevent tragedies on the roadway from occurring.

"These are our friends, family members, colleagues and neighbors. We can prevent these tragedies with proven measures to reduce the number of crashes in our streets with data-backed roadway engineering, enforcement and education," she said.

In a news release following Tuesday's executive order signing, Stamford Police Department Chief Timothy Shaw, and Stamford Fire Department Chief Trevor Roach endorsed the initiative.