About Vision Zero
Vision Zero is Alexandria's plan to eliminate fatal and severe injuries on our streets by 2028.
Vision Zero is a City initiative that is founded on the belief that traffic deaths and severe injuries are unacceptable. In Alexandria, we recognize that deaths and severe injuries are not inevitable “accidents”. They are preventable crashes that can be ended through engineering, enforcement, and education.
The Problem
Over 150 people were killed or severely injured in traffic crashes in Alexandria between 2017 and 2021. These are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
This exacts a deep toll, including deep emotional trauma, healthcare expenses, wage and productivity losses, and significant taxpayer spending on emergency response.
Vision Zero Key Principles
- Traffic deaths and severe injuries are preventable
- Human life and health is the highest priority
- Human beings make mistakes
- The human body is fragile
- Success depends on system-level change, not individual behavior
Safe System Approach
A Safe System approach means taking a holistic look at traffic safety. Applying the Safe System approach involves:
- Anticipating human mistakes
- Designing and managing our transportation system so that (a) the risk of mistakes is low; and (b) when a mistake leads to a crash, it doesn’t result in fatal or severe injury.
Vision Zero As A Movement
Vision Zero was first adopted in Sweden in 1997 and has since spread around the world. In the United States, Alexandria is one of over 50 Vision Zero communities.
Vision Zero Planning
Annual Report and Work Plan
Each year, the City develops an annual report and work plan for the Vision Zero Program. The annual work plan is based on the Complete Streets Five-Year Plan. Click the reports below to learn more.
Projects
Current/Ongoing Projects
West End High-Crash Intersection Audits
Speed Cameras in School Zones
Mount Vernon Avenue North
Duke Street Turn Calming
Corridor Speed Management
Leading Pedestrian Intervals and No Turn on Reds
South Pickett Street Corridor Improvements
Eisenhower Avenue Transportation Study
Holland Lane Corridor Improvements
Visit the Complete Streets webpage for additional projects that improve safety.
Maps and Data
Crash Dashboard
The Vision Zero Crash Dashboard provides citywide traffic safety data to the public. This dashboard is for exploration purposes. Data may not appear in the dashboard until two months after a crash while the crash report is finalized. This dashboard includes crashes that occurred in Alexandria and were reported to police - crashes involving injuries, deaths, or at least $1,500 in damages.
Access the Vision Zero Crash Dashboard
Citywide Crash Analysis
In 2022, a citywide analysis was completed to assess crash trends over time.
2022 Citywide Crash Analysis Report
High-Injury Network
A High Injury Network (HIN) is a collection of corridors where high numbers of people have been killed or severely injured in traffic crashes.
News and Major Updates
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February 2024: Alexandria Ends 2023 With Zero Traffic Fatalities
The City of Alexandria reached a significant milestone by ending 2023 with zero traffic fatalities. View the press release to learn more.
December 2023: City Proposes No Turn on Red Restrictions and Other Safety Treatments for Duke Street
View the press release for more information.
February 2023: City Receives Federal Grant for High-Crash Intersection Audits
On February 1, the US Department of Transportation announced that the City of Alexandria will be awarded federal grant funding through the new Safe Streets & Roads for All Program. The grant will fund safety audits and conceptual designs to improve safety at seven high-crash intersections in Alexandria. This project supports the City's Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries by targeting safety improvements at intersections with a history of fatal and severe crashes. More information will be available as the grant agreement is developed and the project gets underway.
The map below shows the intersections that are included with this project:
December 2022: City of Alexandria Proposes 'No Turn on Red' Safety Restrictions for Intersections along Patrick Street and Henry Street
The City of Alexandria is addressing safety issues by proposing to implement new “no turn on red” (NTOR) restrictions in early 2023 for select streets turning onto Patrick Street and Henry Street. Both streets were identified as high crash corridors in the Vision Zero Action Plan. NTOR strategies have been effective nationwide at reducing crashes, especially ones involving pedestrians.
NTOR changes are proposed for the following streets intersecting with Henry Street:
- Wythe Street
- Oronoco Street
- Princess Street
- Queen Street
NTOR restrictions are proposed for the following streets intersecting with Patrick Street:
- Montgomery Street
- Wythe Street
- Pendleton Street
- Oronoco Street
- Princess Street
- Cameron Street
NTOR restrictions are a low-cost safety treatment that protects pedestrians by reducing collisions between pedestrians and people turning right at a red light. These are typically coupled with signal treatments known as leading pedestrian intervals, which give pedestrians a head start into the intersection and further enhance safety. NTOR restrictions also increase safety for people driving by reducing potential collisions between through vehicles and turning vehicles, particularly in busy areas where finding a gap in traffic can be difficult.
In 2017, City Council adopted a Vision Zero Policy and Action Plan with the goal of getting to zero fatal and severe crashes by 2028. As part of the Vision Zero Annual Work Plan, the City has committed to implementing no turn on red restrictions on two major corridors with high pedestrian activity. Over a dozen people have been struck and injured while walking on Patrick Street and Henry Street within the Old Town area since 2016.
The public comment period closed on February 6, 2023. The NTOR restrictions will brought to the Traffic & Parking Board for approval at their February 2023 meeting.
October 2022: City of Alexandria Announces New Speed Limit Reductions on the West End
View the press release for more information.
August 2022: City of Alexandria to Implement Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras in Select School Zones
View the press release for more information.
December 2021: City of Alexandria Reduces Speed Limit on Seminary Road to Support Vision Zero Safety Goals
View the press release for more information.
Additional Resources
Visit the resources below to learn more: