Dear Mayor Todd Gloria and San Diego City Councilmembers,
Our City’s commitment to Vision Zero in 2015 was a crucial first step towards halting the senseless and preventable deaths and injuries that afflict our streets. Every year, hundreds of our fellow residents fall victim to the devastating consequences of traffic violence, underscoring the critical importance of your commitment.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, we understand the significant effort and financial commitment required to reduce traffic injuries and ultimately eliminate all traffic fatalities. The time for action is now.
We urgently call on you to allocate sufficient resources in San Diego’s budget to facilitate the following critical initiatives:
- Fix the Fatal 15: Prioritize solutions for the 15 most dangerous intersections in our city. Targeted improvements at these locations will contribute significantly to reducing the risk of accidents and saving lives.
- Protect Bikeways: Add safety measures to 75 miles of bikeways during upcoming slurry and Capital Improvement Projects. Ensuring the safety of cyclists not only promotes alternative, sustainable transportation but also safeguards the well-being of our community.
- Implement Complete Streets: Swiftly adopt San Diego’s updated Complete Streets policy, aligning with national best practices as outlined by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). This involves updating the City’s Street Design Manual to reflect NACTO’s four major design guides.
As you make critical decisions about the budget, we urge you to prioritize street safety and the preservation of lives. I know we can’t improve every street, but let’s fix the most dangerous ones, and let’s start now.
The costs, both in financial terms and human lives, are too significant to overlook. We urge you to collaborate with your colleagues and City staff to implement Vision Zero swiftly, thereby initiating life-saving measures in San Diego this year.
Thank you for your dedication to Vision Zero. Together, let’s make our streets safer and save lives in San Diego.
