PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2026
Contact
Aria Grossman, (619) 736-0072, [email protected]
San Diego City Council-Passed Budget to Advance Vision Zero in San Diego
SAN DIEGO—Today, the San Diego City Council advanced a FY 2027 budget that makes strong progress towards Vision Zero in San Diego. The budget includes funding for two of the Vision Zero Coalition’s longstanding priorities: fixing the Fatal 15 and implementing the Speed Management plan. The budget also includes funding to maintain the Multi-Modal Team, which the initial draft budget proposed eliminating in its entirety.
Thanks to the strong leadership of Council President LaCava, Councilmember Whitburn, and Councilmember Campillo, the budget adopted by the Council today maintains the Multi-Modal Team, a team of engineers dedicated to making San Diego streets safer.
"Traffic safety is a public safety issue,” said Councilmember Raul Campillo. “Safe streets keep people alive in my district every day. Today, my colleagues and I ensured that we don't go back on our commitment to safety for our young people, seniors, and everyone who moves through the city. I will continue fighting to ensure we are doing everything possible to keep our residents safe, especially our children as they travel to and from school."
“Street safety is public safety. Throughout this budget cycle I have been committed to funding Vision Zero,” said Council President Joe LaCava. “The safety measures included in today’s budget advance the shared priorities the coalition and I hold by making driving, walking, and cycling safer. The recent tragedies in my district are a painful, and constant reminder why we must continue making these critical investments.”
“As Chair of the City of San Diego's Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I know how much families depend on safe, well-designed streets, whether they are biking to school, walking to a neighborhood park, or simply getting around their community”, said Councilmember Stephen Whitburn. “I am proud that today's budget restores the Multimodal Team and invests in the Fatal 15 and Speed Management Plan. Thank you to Circulate Planning & Policy, Families for Safe Streets, and the entire Vision Zero Coalition for their persistent advocacy and for never ceasing to make the case for the safety of San Diego families."
The budget includes the following highlights for traffic safety:
- $551,000 to make necessary improvements to the Fatal 15, the 15 deadliest intersections in the City.
- $2.4 million to implement the speed management plan, which would slow speeds near schools and in targeted safety corridors.
- $1.45 million to maintain the Multi-Modal Team within the Transportation Department. This team designs safety improvements like crosswalks, stop signs, and bike lanes that make our neighborhoods safer.
“This budget represents a strong commitment by the City Council to prioritize traffic safety,” said Aria Grossman, Policy Manager at Circulate Planning and Policy. “Making sure that our streets are safe for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists is a core city responsibility. However, too often, the safety of those who walk and roll is treated as a nice to have. The budget passed today reflects a commitment to building a city that is safe for all road users.”
“I lost my husband to a preventable traffic crash, and through Families for Safe Streets San Diego I’ve met far too many families whose lives have been forever changed by traffic violence. Today’s decision is an investment in preventing future tragedies and making our streets safer for everyone. We’re grateful the City Council chose to preserve the team responsible for designing the safety improvements that help save lives,” said Laura Keenan, Co-Founder, Families for Safe Streets San Diego.
“The budget passed by the San Diego City Council affirms a fundamental truth, that traffic safety is public safety,” said Ian Hembree, Advocacy and Community Manager for the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. “The residents of America’s Finest City deserve a transportation system that enables safe choices to get around. Kids riding their bikes to school, seniors walking to church, and adults traveling to work will be safer because of the priorities identified in this year’s budget.”
“We are deeply grateful to all the advocates that continue to demand safer streets, cleaner air, and a more livable San Diego,” Anar Salayev, Executive Director of BikeSD, shared. “A budget reflects our values, and I am glad to see that our City’s leaders value traffic safety. This last-minute decision to ensure the preservation of the multimodal team is significant and a step towards protecting our citizens. I look forward to seeing their good work around our beautiful city.”
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