Oak Park’s village board officially approved a Vision Zero action plan, committing to the goal of eliminating serious injuries or death from traffic crashes, during its meeting Tuesday.
Vision Zero has received an outpouring of support from the community, including from avid bikers, parents, schoolchildren and other residents. At the Jan. 28 board meeting, 16 locals urged the board to implement the action plan.
The village’s goal is to consistently have zero deaths or serious injuries from traffic crashes by 2035. Village staff will begin to comprehensively implement traffic-calming and protection measures to make the roads and sidewalks safer for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers, too.
“The life and health of all persons living and traveling within Oak Park are our utmost priority, and no one should die or be seriously injured while traveling on our streets,” the resolution reads. “Everyone in Oak Park should be able to walk, bike, take public transit, and drive on streets that are safe, regardless of who they are or where they live.”
The board members have all expressed support for Vision Zero and agreed at the Jan. 28 meeting that it’s not just about approving the plan and then sitting back. Action and follow-through on this is critical, trustees have said.
Vision Zero will go hand-in-hand with the village’s sustainability goals laid out in Climate Ready Oak Park. Increasing safety for pedestrians and bikers might convince more people to travel without gas-powered cars that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The village has a goal to reduce emissions by 60% by 2030, and might not meet that at its current rate of reduction.
The resolution approving Vision Zero also states that people of color are disproportionately affected by traffic crashes. Oak Park leaders recently gathered at Unity Temple to reiterate their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
