Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Department of Public Service is actively engaged in pursuing the City initiative to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries to zero, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all through the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0. This ordinance demonstrates the commitment by the City of Columbus and City Council to the overall well-being of the City’s residents.
Fatal and serious injury crashes have been on the rise annually. Every person has the right to get to their destination safely. The Columbus Vision Zero Action Plan 1.0 is a two-year plan to begin to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes on city streets. The action plan has set the goal that by the year 2035 all fatal and serious injury crashes will be eliminated.
The Department of Public Service plans to pursue and submit applications for grant opportunities to implement the action plan. No specific grant opportunities have been identified at this time.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
No financial participation is required at this time. City funds will be approved in the form of design contracts, right of way acquisitions, and/or construction contracts that will be submitted for Council’s approval at a later date
Title
To adopt the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0, as described herein, as the primary framework for reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries to zero; to authorize the Director of Public Service, on behalf of the City of Columbus, to prepare and submit applications for grant opportunities; accept and expend grant funds; and to issue refunds if necessary after final accounting is performed. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, sixty-five percent of fatal and severe injury crashes in the City occur on ten percent of City streets; and
WHEREAS, between 2015 and 2019, fatal and serious injury crashes have increased annually with a total of 225 people killed in crashes on City streets, and preliminary data indicates increased fatalities in 2020; and
WHEREAS, fatalities and serious injuries on our streets are unacceptable and crashes are preventable; and
WHEREAS, Vision Zero Columbus makes protecting lives the #1 priority of our transportation system; and
WHEREAS, Vision Zero provides a framework for reducing traffic deaths and serious injuries to zero, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all; and
WHEREAS, in March 2020 the Mayor announced the intent to pursue Vision Zero for the City of Columbus and to develop an action plan; and
WHEREAS, 2035 has been the year selected to reach the goal of eliminating all fatal and serious injury crashes; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance to adopt the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0 is the first step necessary to meet the goal to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor’s Office directed a multi-departmental effort spearheaded by the Department of Public Service, along with community representatives and stakeholders to lead this initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Service has the authority to apply for and accept grants aligned with the delivery or completion of the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0 between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Service has the authority to make modifications to the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0 as necessary; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That by the year 2035, the goal is to eliminate all fatal and serious injury crashes on City streets.
SECTION 2. That Vision Zero Columbus and the goal to eliminate serious crashes has been adopted by the City with the commitments of the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Public Service, Columbus Public Health, the Department of Public Safety, and the Department of Neighborhoods as a necessary step in meeting the 2035 goal;
SECTION 3. That the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0 has been developed for the purpose of putting a plan in motion to begin to meet the 2035 goal, with a focus on being data driven, equitable, and including community input.
SECTION 4. That key City departments, including Public Service, Public Health, Public Safety, and the Mayor’s Office, are actively engaged as leaders and partners in the process of developing the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0, implementing it, and evaluating and sharing progress.
SECTION 5. That the Director of Public Service has the authority to apply for and accept grants aligned with the delivery or completion of the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0 between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2023.
SECTION 6. That the Director of Public Service has the authority to make modifications to the Vision Zero Columbus Action Plan 1.0 as necessary.
SECTION 7. That the Vision Zero Core Team, consisting of City staff , will continue to meet regularly to implement the Action Plan, with semiannual updates and evaluation by the Working Groups and the Executive Advisory Committee.
SECTION 8. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.