In an effort to reduce traffic fatalities in Philadelphia, the city's Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems (OTIS) is actively working on its next Vision Zero five-year action plan, as part of a promise made by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. The mayor, who took office in March 2024, signed an executive order pledging to eliminate all traffic deaths on the city streets, a plan that now seeks public involvement in its formation.
The executive order requires that the Vision Zero task force release a new action plan by October 31, 2025, which will guide the city's safety planning and infrastructure investment through 2030. Over the course of the next ten months, various action items will be developed in this plan, and this involves significant capital projects designed to reshape the city's transit environment. This involvement comes at a critical juncture, as the post-2020 increase in traffic fatalities continues to impact Philadelphia, particularly among pedestrians and cyclists.
Citizen feedback is a cornerstone of the plan's development, allowing Philadelphians to voice their concerns and aspirations for traffic safety in their city. OTIS has outlined several ways for residents to get involved, including surveys, focus groups, pop-up events, and a dedicated newsletter. Details can be found at the Vision Zero initiative’s website, where residents are encouraged to participate.
The 2024 Vision Zero Annual Report, released in December 2024, highlighted a somber reality: fatal crashes remain significantly higher than pre-2020 levels. People inside vehicles saw a 29 percent increase in deaths post-2020, while the fatality rate for those walking or using other non-vehicular methods skyrocketed by 65 percent. In response, the city has already put in place various safety measures like the automated speed enforcement (ASE) program on Roosevelt Boulevard, which will soon expand to include five new corridors such as PA Route 611 (Broad Street/Old York Road). Additionally, the introduction of the Penrose roundabout has greatly improved transit simplicity and safety at a formerly challenging crossroad. The results of these initiatives, though promising, mark only the beginning of a much-needed overhaul of the city’s approach to traffic management and safety.
