Councilor Koyama Lane Brings Vision Zero Action Plan Resolution to City Council to Reaffirm Commitment to Safe Streets

The Portland City Council is set to vote on a resolution that strengthens its Vision Zero initiative, aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane will lead a Bike Bus rally before the council meeting, marking a decade since the city committed to Vision Zero. The resolution plans to establish a Vision Zero Task Force to enhance inter-agency collaboration in achieving safer streets. Notably, the High Crash Network, which constitutes only 8% of Portland's streets, accounted for 62% of traffic fatalities from 2018 to 2022. The resolution also recognizes the disproportionate impacts of traffic violence on Black and Indigenous communities, as well as older adults.

Koyama Lane stresses the urgency of the city's commitment, stating that every traffic death is preventable. The resolution requires annual reporting to the City Council on progress towards the goal of zero traffic fatalities. Engaging community members in this process is seen as vital to fostering a culture of safety on Portland streets.