Portland council adopts GPCOG Vision Zero Action Plan, sets goal to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2045
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Summary
The City Council unanimously adopted the Greater Portland Council of Governments’ Vision Zero Action Plan and committed the city to eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2045. Advocates urged an accelerated target of 2035; staff recommended aligning with GPCOG’s 2045 timeline.
The Portland City Council unanimously approved a resolution adopting the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) Vision Zero Action Plan and committed the city to a goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2045.
Councilor Regina Phillips, chair of the Sustainability and Transportation Committee, introduced the resolution and said staff produced an actionable roadmap with specific tasks and timelines. “It talks about five goals and what we want to do,” Phillips said, praising Assistant City Manager Greg Jordan’s work in shaping the quick-action items.
Members of the public and neighborhood advocates gave testimony in support of the resolution. Winston Lumpkins, a former chair of the Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, urged the council to consider a 2035 target to help the region meet its goals. Jamie Parker of Portland Trails and Andrew Zarrow, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, said the plan’s quick-action items and internal task forces are necessary to move beyond piecemeal responses.
Assistant City Manager Greg Jordan and staff recommended the council keep the timeline proposed by GPCOG, which sets 2045 as the goal year. When Councilor Pelletier asked whether 2035 was feasible, staff said they lacked the cost and impact analysis to accelerate the timeline immediately and recommended referring such questions to the committee for more information.
Several councilors called for continued public engagement and for Vision Zero principles to be integrated across capital projects and departmental decisions. Councilor Sykes called the resolution “one of the most important things we’ve done” and urged public participation going forward.
The council voted unanimously to adopt Resolve 82425, which endorses the GPCOG Vision Zero Action Plan, supports producing a transportation master plan and quick-action items, and directs staff to work with regional partners on implementation.