Can Chicago Eliminate Traffic Deaths?

Outlined in a new "action agenda" called "Chicago Forward," the city's transportation department, headed by commissioner Gabe Klein, has mounted what may be the first campaign in the United States to attempt to completely eliminate all pedestrian, bicycle, and overall traffic crash fatalities. Goodyear outlines the multifaceted approach the city is implementing to achieve this target. Among the traffic safety strategies being pursued are, "engineering local streets to reduce car speeds; improving pedestrian and bike facilities; education; better data collection and evaluation; and increasing enforcement."

"Commissioner Klein was not available to comment on Chicago's new plan, but Ron Burke, executive director of the city's Active Transportation Alliance, said he and fellow advocates are optimistic. 'There's a lot to like in the plan,' says Burke, who notes that the city has already begun implementing many of the policies in the report. 'It's encouraging that the city would create and publish a plan to begin with, one that lays out goals and objectives that can be tracked and monitored. It puts them on the record and holds them accountable.'"