Mayor Kenney Signs Order Creating Office of Complete Streets and Vision Zero Task Force

Philadelphia, November 7, 2016 –  Mayor Kenney today signed an Executive Order that formally creates the Office of Complete Streets and a Vision Zero Task Force, a major step toward the goal of making Philadelphia streets safer for all users.

“This September’s ‘Philly Free Streets’ event proved that the streets are indeed for all Philadelphians,” said the Mayor.  “Now our goal is to make using the streets safer for everyone, regardless of age, ability, or mode of transportation.  The task is formidable, but it is one to which I am committed.”

The Office of Complete Streets, led by the newly appointed Director of Complete Streets, Kelley Yemen, will focus on expanding the multi-modal facilities that comprise the City’s transportation network.  “Complete Streets” are streets designed for safe, convenient and comfortable travel for all users and all modes of transportation.

“With Vision Zero, we recognize that traffic crashes and fatalities are preventable and it’s up to all of us to work together,” said Yemen. “The Office of Complete Streets will work to improve the way we design our streets, enhance and target enforcement, and educate the public in order to reduce fatalities to zero.”

The Office will, among other things, ensure the integration of streets-related policies and programs among a host of City departments, including L&I, Streets, Water and the Planning Commission.

The Vision Zero Task Force will serve in an advisory role; specifically, it is charged with developing a plan to reduce Philadelphia traffic-related fatalities to zero by 2030, through an equitable approach to education, engineering, and enforcement systems. The Vision Zero concept was conceived in Sweden in 1994, where it has led to some of the lowest traffic-related fatalities in to world.

The Vision Zero Task Force will be composed of 15 members, representing the City, PennDOT, SEPTA, and local community and advocacy groups.  Within 120 days, the Task Force will establish a short-term and long-term action plan for meeting the 2030 goal of zero traffic-related fatalities.

“This is an important day for Philadelphia,” said Sarah Clark Stuart, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, one of the Task Force members.  “We are excited that the Vision Zero Task Force will bring together agencies, community leaders and advocates with a mandate to lay out proven strategies that ultimately will eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries.  This will ultimately make all of Philadelphia’s streets safe for everyone, no matter what their age, income, or neighborhood.”

Both the Office of Complete Streets and the Vision Zero Task Force are housed within the Managing Director’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (oTIS).