Indianapolis Leaders Propose Vision Zero Plan

Indianapolis could join other cities in developing a Vision Zero plan as part of an effort to stem rising pedestrian deaths, reports Nadia Scharf in the Indianapolis Star.

According to Scharf, “A Vision Zero plan has been on the table for nearly a decade. Now, several city-county council members plan to present a proposal in July and the city has sent out a request for proposals for a study that would examine how a Vision Zero plan could operate in Indy.”

The strategy requires collaboration between various city departments and nonprofits and will likely include infrastructure improvements such as bike lanes, curb extensions, and crosswalks. The proposed Vision Zero bill “will set a timeline goal to see results, create and define an oversight committee to keep efforts on track towards that goal, and set requirements for the first draft of an action plan.”

According to Scharf, Indianapolis faces a disadvantage when it comes to transportation funding: because the state allocates funding based on road miles rather than lanes or vehicle throughput, there is no dedicated funding source for Vision Zero to date. “It’s unclear what changes led by a Vision Zero plan might look like in Indianapolis, but advocates and policymakers alike agree: something needs to change to make Indy streets safer.”