Published January 10 2019
Vision Zero is the city’s ambitious effort to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries in Bellevue by 2030. Members of the public can now help make that vision a reality by responding to an online questionnaire.
The council unanimously approved an ordinance in 2016 incorporating Vision Zero into the city's comprehensive plan. Today, city staff from multiple departments, along with partner organizations, are contributing to an action plan that will guide the sustained effort necessary to achieve the Vision Zero goal.
The questionnaire gauges people’s attitudes about traffic safety. Responses will be incorporated into the action plan and be used to identify new efforts to make city streets safe for everyone – people who walk, bike, use transit and drive. Bellevue is just the second city in Washington to adopt Vision Zero.
While Bellevue’s street safety record compares favorably with other cities, every 17 days someone is killed or seriously injured on Bellevue’s streets. Nationwide, more than 37,000 people were killed by traffic-related crashes in 2017.
The Vision Zero movement, which originated in the 1990s, is founded on the belief that roadway deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable and preventable.