Vision Zero Action Plan Launched in Houston

In Houston, 60 percent of serious automobile crashes occur on 6 percent of the city's streets. A New Vision Zero Action Plan will focus safety improvements on those streets with a high density of traffic deaths and serious injuries.

1 minute read

December 21, 2020, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Traffic Safety

Houston Planning and Development Department / Houston Vision Zero

The city of Houston this week launched a new Vision Zero Action Plan (VZAP) "to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030 and improve street safety and equity for road users of all ages, abilities and modes of transportation," according to a press release from the office of Mayor Sylvester Turner.

"More than 200 people die and nearly 1,000 people are seriously injured in crashes on Houston roadways every year," according to the press release.

The launch of the VZAP comes over a year after the city committed to Vision Zero. "After extensive data analysis, community engagement and multiagency collaboration, the City of Houston created the Vision Zero Action Plan."

According to the press release, that analysis included mapping out rates of fatalities and serious injuries in traffic collisions.

The city's Planning and Development Department will spearhead the coalition of city and regional agencies tasked with four key goals to achieve Vision Zero: 1) create a safe, equitable, and accessible network of streets, 2) make walking, rolling, and biking safe, 3) make connecting to transit safe, and 4) make driving safe. 

Wednesday, December 16, 2020 in City of Houston Mayor's Office

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

7 hours ago - Cities Today

Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

June 30 - blogTO

Map of Berlin with ring roads in green and red.

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan

The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.

June 30 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.