Vision Zero task force meets to tackle road safety, with years of work ahead

A new task force created through the Indianapolis City-County Council met for the second time to address road safety issues.

Vision Zero aims to provide a roadmap toward a dramatic reduction in the number of fatal crashes on Indianapolis' roadways. The Vision Zero proposal was created last year in response to an increased number of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities.

Councilor Andy Nielsen said the public's concerns are being heard.

“We know we need to act with urgency, but taking a decade plus look at what will be a really complicated process," Nielsen said. 

In order to reduce traffic related deaths a number of issues need to be addressed, including infrastructure, policy and education. The task force said a top priority is hiring a Vision Zero administrator to oversee work that will take years.

The group is made up of 15 people with various backgrounds, including city leaders, public safety officials, urban planners and community advocates. The first meeting of the task force was held last fall.

A presentation at the meeting outlined efforts from peer cities that also took on Vision Zero initiatives. The information highlighted safe street measures already underway in indianapolis. Those include projects that turn roads from one to two-way streets, improved crosswalks and speed reduction efforts.

Councilor John Barth said funding for increased safety measures will need to be allocated. He said that’s why they’ve set an intentional deadline.

“So the action plan will be done as first iteration in July, and that's so we can get some kind of agreement on what elements we need to make sure are in the budget for 2026,” Barth said.

Maria Cantrell, an engineer with Burgess & Niple, gave a presentation at the recent task force meeting. Cantrell is from Columbus, Ohio, a peer city with its own version of a Vision Zero initiative.

Columbus recorded success reducing downtown speed limits, and committed $1 million to an outreach campaign.

Cantrell said Indianapolis will start to collect community data and map the information online. And she said that will help the city identify trouble spots.

“This is where I have problems crossing the street,” Cantrell said, demonstrating how people can identify problems. "This is a really high stress location for me when I’m riding my bike.”

The nonprofit Health By Design will partner with the city to lead parts of the plan, including community outreach. Pop-up events and a new survey will launch this spring.

Contact WFYI Managing City Editor Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.