- The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the grant to help guide future investments for walking, biking, or driving in Salem.
- Project includes installing 20-mph signs on residential streets, acquiring speed radar devices, and educating the public.
- Vision Zero is a national movement to reduce or eliminate pedestrian deaths and serious injuries.
The City of Salem has been awarded a $2.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support Salem’s Vision Zero program to reduce or eliminate pedestrian deaths and serious injuries on our roadways. The grant will help fund various components of the Vision Zero program, including:
- Salem Vision Zero Plan – A strategic blueprint focused on implementing safety measures and fostering responsible road behaviors.
- Residential Neighborhood Speed Limits: Install 20-mph speed limit signs in residential neighborhoods, aiming to create safer transportation for all.
- Speed radar enhancements – Purchase speed radar devices and trailers to inform drivers of new speed limits.
- Public Education Campaign – Initiative to educate the community on road safety behaviors and responsible driving, walking, and biking practices.
Vision Zero is an approach to transportation policy that makes protecting human life for those using neighborhood streets the highest priority. Vision Zero is dedicated to designing a safer street and building better behaviors among all road users to prevent crashes and save lives.
“We’ve been lobbying our state and federal partners and hoping that something like this would come through,” said Mayor Chris Hoy. “Keeping our streets safe to bike on, walk on, and drive on is a huge issue for every growing city. This is going to be a tremendous help in saving the lives of our residents.”
The City of Salem is committed to working toward the only acceptable number of traffic deaths and serious injuries: ZERO. According to the AAA Foundation, the average risk of death for a pedestrian in a crash with a vehicle reaches 10% at an impact speed of 20 mph, 25% at 30 mph, 50% at 40 mph, 75% at 50 mph, and 90% at 58 mph.
