Vision Zero Houston
Mayor Sylvester Turner signed an executive order in August to adopt Vision Zero Houston, a plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries caused by crashes on Houston roads by 2030. Vision Zero Houston is a comprehensive and holistic planning approach to safer streets that enhances the quality of life for all Houstonians.

The plan will transform how the city designs roads and sidewalks and will prioritize engineering, education, enforcement, equity, and evaluation. For more information, see the Mayor's Office press release or visit Houston’s Vision Zero page.

A Bright Spot in My Day
Last month, I had the opportunity to join Mayor Turner as he signed an Executive Order instructing the Planning & Development Department to lead an effort to eliminate deaths and serious injuries due to traffic crashes by 2030. Eliminate. Not reduce, eliminate.

With a stroke of his pen, the Mayor entered the City of Houston into the Vision Zero Network. Vision Zero is a multi-national road traffic safety project that assists cities in eliminating fatalities and serious injuries involving road traffic. It started in Sweden in 1997. A core principle of the vision is that safety for all road users should be paramount.

I know what you’re thinking. There’s no way to eliminate automobile-related deaths. Ok, what number should we shoot for? How many of your friends and neighbors do you think we should allow to die by crashes on our roadways? The Mayor and I agree that the only correct answer is Zero.

The first part of getting to Zero is getting the right people at the table to identify the policies, programs and practices that are needed to improve safety for our road users. These improvements can range from the way we build our streets, to how we enforce our laws and how we educate all users. If you have an idea that will help this effort, please send it to us at mobility.planning@houstontx.gov.

In the meantime, do what you can to eliminate your chances for being in a crash. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t be distracted when you drive. Please, obey all road rules, whether you are driving, walking or biking.

- Margaret Wallace Brown, Interim Director

Houston Bike Plan
From the Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee
The work to improve the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians is an active priority for the City of Houston. The Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) offers condolences to the families and communities of the people who died in fatal crashes while bicycling. Crashes have killed eight people riding bicycles in 2019.

On August 13, 2019, Mayor Sylvester Turner signed an executive order to implement Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all in Houston by 2030. In 2018, the BAC recommended that Vision Zero be implemented as a way to centralize safe mobility initiatives regardless of which mode of transportation is used. Our work is as dynamic as the people we represent. We’re committed to advocating that the right people, tools, and resources are in place to implement equitable engineering, education, and enforcement for people who ride bikes.

Other important measures the Mayor has announced that support Vision Zero are the Safer Streets and Complete Streets initiatives. These initiatives focus on infrastructure on roads and sidewalks, include hiring additional staff to execute the tasks, leading a safety campaign, and implementing safety recommendations made by the Federal Highway Administration. Also, the Houston Police Department is enforcing and educating the public about Safe Passing law enforcement operations. These policies provide a robust framework for equitable outcomes in safe mobility. The BAC is committed to providing additional resources, tools, and thought leadership to build the strategy for Vision Zero in the next six months. Our priorities include:

• Advocating for Vision Zero’s deliverables, including clear deadlines, goals, and dates by which the public can hold the City accountable.
• Gathering and analyzing data to update the Bike Plan
• Identifying facilities development and maintenance capacity in the CIP
• Continuing to drive the Build 50 Challenge until the Houston Bike Plan is realized!

Two things all Houstonians use without prejudice are shared roads and potable water. Safe, fun, affordable multi-modal options are at our fingertips. Join us in the work. To learn more about the Houston Bike Plan, become involved, and follow the Bicycle Advisory Committee’s recommendations, visit www.houstonbikeplan.org.

Keep it movin’...

Maya Ford, Chair

Team Highlights

P&D 2019 service award recipients include Jose Mendoza, Christa Stoneham, Chad Miller, Lynn Henson, Margaret Wallace Brown, Muxian Fang, Anna Sedillo, Zach Oyer and Lauren Grove (left to right)

The Planning & Development Department presented employee service awards and recognized staff members for their years of service at the annual department meeting in August. We thank these outstanding employees for their exemplary work in the department and dedicated years of service to the City of Houston.

Outstanding Collaboration: Muxian Fang

Excellence in Customer Service (Huq Award): Zach Oyer

Exemplary Achievement and Performance: Milady Quintanilla

Rookie of the Year: Lauren Grove

Twenty-Five Years of Service: Russell Calhoun and Anna Sedillo

Twenty Years of Service: Lynn Henson

Five Years of Service: Jose Mendoza, Chad Miller, Christa Stoneham, and Patrick Walsh (posthumously)

Map of the Month
The North Houston Highway Improvement Project, more commonly known as the I-45 project, is a Texas Department of Transportation project that will reconstruct I-45 North, from Beltway 8 to downtown.

Mayor Sylvester Turner has tasked the Planning & Development Department to lead a public engagement process to hear concerns from neighborhoods and businesses, as well as, identify opportunities for improvement to the project. The Department’s GIS Team created a web application with an interactive map that captures public comments and concerns about the project.

On the app, simply click on an intersection or address on the map, and then pick from a list of issues to make comments. You can comment about air and noise quality, traffic, displacement of homes, businesses, buildings or facilities, connectivity issues, and more. The map app expands public engagement options and can be opened in most electronic devices.

Voice your input on the project today by adding your comments on the map and help influence I-45 expansion plans!