The Phoenix Street Transportation Department is on the hunt for young minds to contribute to its road safety mission. Fresh voices, specifically students from the local high school and college scene, are being invited to join their Vision Zero Community Advisory Committee as non-voting members. The committee, which meets bi-monthly, steers the department's strategy to eliminate traffic deaths in Phoenix by the midway mark of this century.
Providing their perspectives on road safety issues that affect their daily commutes to schools and various hangouts, these students are expected to offer insights on all manner of transport, from the tread of their tires to the heels of their sneakers. The application window now remains open until June 30, 2024, a month's grace past the initial May 31 deadline, according to Phoenix Street Transportation Department's announcement.
Qualifying candidates must check a few boxes: be at least 17, able to regularly attend committee meetings every two months, and—crucially—have a vested interest in putting forward thoughtful input on the topic of road safety. Serving a one-year term, these students will rub shoulders with 11 appointed voting members, all collaborating under the banner of Vision Zero, a plan unanimously greenlit by the City Council in the Fall of 2022. Students can throw their hats in the ring at Phoenix.gov/RoadSafety.
The introduction of this youth vantage point is essential; it colors the committee's work with the fresh paint of experience that only the young have—a demographic that frequently finds themselves behind wheels or straddling bikes, navigating the Phoenix streets en route to their various obligations. With an August start date, those selected will embark on their term from the August 15 committee meeting, promises the department.
Swiftly reflecting the city's guided commitment to muffling the grim toll of traffic fatalities, the program is an invitation extended to those for whom the vision of zero road deaths is not merely an arbitrary target, but a horizon they strive towards during each daily trek to academia or employment. For more updates and involvement, the wider community can follow along with @StreetsPHX and utilize hashtags #RoadSafety and #PHXTraffic to engage in the ongoing conversation.
