TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A local group is on a mission to keep people safe as they walk on Tallahassee's streets.
Thursday night, Sustainable Tallahassee met with their transportation committee to discuss the Vision Zero Safety Project.
They discussed how the project could save lives.
With 40,000 traffic deaths in the U.S. each year. Organizers say the success of the program in cities like New York and Portland, Oregon are promising.
"For too long we've been designing our streets for cars instead of for people," said Max Mccan, co-chair of Sustainable Tallahassee.
Max Mccan tries to walk the streets of Tallahassee as often as he can.
With the recent death of FSU student Natalie Nickchen he says there is something that can be done.
"Vision Zero seeks to reverse that by encouraging elected officials to adopt plans that are geared towards completely eliminating traffic fatalities for pedestrians and even for motorists," said Mccan.
Thursday night ,Sustainable Tallahassee discussed some of the key concepts of Vision Zero a plan they hope the city will adopt.
" The most successful Vision Zero Programs at least those that I'm aware of specifically put safety before speed," said Peter Rassolov, Transportation Committee.
If the program is adopted leaders would have to set a timeline for improvement.
"There needs to be rapid implementation and evaluation," said Rassolov.
Each city has it's unique strategy to solve their traffic issues.
And Mccann says too many people are being hit and it's time to do something.
"I hope that there will be some action here. It's a shame that it takes fatalities to get our elected officials to take this seriously. It shouldn't take these types of tragedies," said Mccan.
The transportation committee with present a letter to the Sustainable Tallahassee Board for the city to adopt a Vision Zero Resolution.
That will be presented to the City Commission for them to make a decision.
They presented this to the commission last year with no action so they hope this year will be different.
The transportation committee with present a letter to the Sustainable Tallahassee Board for the city to adopt a Vision Zero Resolution.
That will be presented to the City Commission for them to make a decision.
They presented this to the commission last year with no action so they hope this year will be different.
