BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission is starting the process of applying to become a Vision Zero region, aiming to reduce traffic and pedestrian fatalities to zero.
The application process, announced by the LVPC Transportation Committee Thursday, would call on plans developed by LVPC to support grant applications toward the zero-fatality goal.
"The application is extensive and requires our commitment. The national Vision Zero recognition further pushes the ideal set for the Future LV and Walk Roll LV and will coincide with the planned uptake of our traffic safety plan later this year."Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Transportation Planner Benjamin Dinkel
"The application is extensive and requires our commitment," LVPC Transportation Planner Benjamin Dinkel said.
"The national Vision Zero recognition further pushes the ideal set for the Future LV and Walk Roll LV and will coincide with the planned uptake of our traffic safety plan later this year."
Representatives said updates on the application to the Vision Zero network will continue in the coming months.
The Vision Zero Network is a nonprofit group that provides guidance and support to those implementing Vision Zero goals.
It currently recognizes Vision Zero plans in Bethlehem, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Lancaster.
But those are not alone — plans and legislation for reducing traffic-related deaths recently were passed in Allentown, Easton, and Upper Macungie and South Whitehall townships.
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration also tracks many Vision Zero plans throughout the country but does not yet list those in the Lehigh Valley.
‘Too many fatalities and injuries'
U.S. Transportation Department data showed that from 2016 to 2020, the number of traffic fatalities in Northampton County was 1.9 times that of the average county nationwide.
Lehigh County was even higher, at 2.4 times the average county.
"There's just been one too many fatalities and serious injuries, of pedestrians and cyclists," LVPC Executive Director Becky Bradley said.
"It's a big transportation safety gold star, and that could be used by any of our communities in their grant-seeking as well."Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Executive Director Becky Bradley
"We had two on McArthur Road last week, I believe it was. And one is abominable, but two, within a day of each other, or even within the same day, is just, it's even worse. And people have been driving faster and other things.
"We're hoping to leverage this into another way to communicate with people to be mindful that you're in a space used by everyone."
By designating the region, Bradley said it could bolster a new set of grant opportunities for its municipalities.
"Once we get the designation, it just shows further commitment to working toward no deaths for pedestrians, cycle cyclists, mobility impaired or people in vehicles," Bradley said.
"It's a big transportation safety gold star, and that could be used by any of our communities in their grant-seeking as well."
‘That's the initiative'
Planning commission members said initiative is in concurrence with an update to a Long-Range Transportation Plan update by the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study in October.
"And even though we may not ever get to zero, while we attempt to get there, we're going to reduce the most obvious concerns in our communities," Lehigh County Director of General Services Richard Molchany said.
"And I think that's the initiative."
"Everything from do, we have appropriate signage to is the curve on the road, the right radius for certain types of speeds and other things, signal timing, that sort of thing. It just allows us to make a broader policy statement, in addition to the ones that have already been made."Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Executive Director Becky Bradley
He and Bradley commended Allentown and the other municipalities for doing work to reducing traffic fatalities.
Bradley said it's about both municipal infrastructure across the county, and working to adjust driver behavior.
She said a component of the bipartisan infrastructure law that also contributes to developing safe and accessible communities through Vision Zero work and funding from U.S. Transportation Department supports such initiatives.
"Everything from do, we have appropriate signage to is the curve on the road, the right radius for certain types of speeds and other things, signal timing, that sort of thing," Bradley said.
"It just allows us to make a broader policy statement, in addition to the ones that have already been made."
