Santa Rosa’s new Transportation & Public Works Director Dan Hennessey gave a presentation about the updated Vision Zero Implementation Plan at the August 6th City Council meeting.
SCBC has been involved in the county-wide Vision Zero effort since its inception. Many hours and dollars have been spent creating a data dashboard, wordsmithing action plans, and passing resolutions, yet traffic collisions and fatalities continue to increase annually due to a lack of concrete action.
Director Hennessey blew us out of the water with his laser-like focus on systemic infrastructure changes that decrease the ability of drivers to drive at unsafe speeds and that separate cyclists and pedestrians from vehicles. He laid out a program of inexpensive quickbuilds that can be implemented more rapidly than traditional projects. He called on the Council to back him up when constituents complain about change, and each one of them pledged to do so.
(You can watch the presentation and discussion here; it starts at 1:08:44.)
This was the boldest, most progressive thing we’ve heard from any of our local jurisdictions and we are beyond thrilled. Our efforts make a difference!
If you are a Santa Rosa resident, email the Council and thank them in advance for supporting Director Hennessey’s plans! (Find your district representative and their contact information here.)