Years in the making, a formal Vision Zero Strategy for Delta has been endorsed by council.
Vision Zero is an international traffic and road safety initiative that aims to achieve a road system with no fatalities or serious injuries. Originating in Sweden, several cities in North America have also adopted safety plans.
Based on collision data analysis, public and stakeholder feedback as well as technical assessment of various road safety initiatives, Delta’s Vision Zero Strategy has a goal of reducing serious injuries or fatalities by a minimum of five per cent a year, and at least 25 per cent by the year 2030.
The strategy contains several guiding principles including that collisions are predictable and preventable and should not lead to injury or death.
The plan involves a multi-phase approach with much of the work in the first phase, including identifying collision hot spots, trends and countermeasures, having already been undertaken.
The City of Delta, in conjunction with the City of Surrey, has already undertaken a review of the Scott Road corridor.
A staff report notes that through the existing Transportation Technical Committee, engineering staff will collaborate with representatives from Delta police, ICBC, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and other key community stakeholders.
“Our strategy encompasses a range of initiatives, from enhancing pedestrian crossings and improving bike lanes, to making our streets more accessible for people of all abilities. However, Vision Zero is more than just a set of road improvements; it’s a movement that challenges us to change the way we think about transportation. It encourages us to embrace a culture of shared responsibility where drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transit users all play a role in creating safer streets,” states a message from mayor and council in the strategy document.
The document also notes that over the past 10 years, on average, 22 people were killed or seriously injured on Delta’s roads annually.
Engineering director Steven Lan said they want to be pro-active when it comes to where most accidents occur, along major corridors and intersections, wanting to make those areas safer before more housing developments are built.
The strategy includes the city initiating a Nordel Way safety study in 2025, with funding already set aside for the initiative, Lan added.
