BPAC endorses Vision 0 resolution, asks for benchmarks and annual data reporting

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee on June 12 voted to forward a Vision 0 resolution to the City Council, asking that the language be clarified to state the Vision 0 goal (elimination of traffic fatalities and serious injuries) and that the city manager provide regular data and progress reports to the governing body.

Committee members said the resolution should do more than set an aspirational target: it should require concrete interim benchmarks and a reporting mechanism so future staff and administrations can be held to the policy.

Chair Michael Garcia opened discussion by noting the resolution "establishing the City of Santa Fe as a Vision 0 city and directing the city manager to take action in support of the Vision 0 goal," and explained the committee's version was already adopted earlier and pushed toward final council consideration. Romella (city staff) and multiple members pressed to replace phrasing such as "significantly reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050" with language that explicitly describes Vision 0 as the goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by a target year, and to add interim benchmarks.

Members debated what an appropriate target year would be and whether to include interim reductions as accountability milestones. Member Schiff Miller and others argued Vision 0 is an aspirational goal that should guide immediate action; Member McConnell and others urged adding measurable interim targets so progress is visible over time. Several members suggested using a multi-year baseline average rather than a single anomalous year when setting percentage reductions.

The committee agreed on a set of technical edits: change "increase" to "increased" where needed, insert the word "city" into the clause that directs incorporation of Vision 0 into plans and policies (so it reads "relevant city plans"), and remove imprecise language such as "significantly reduce" in favor of clearer wording. Members also asked staff to confirm references to NMDOT’s Target Zero language and its timeline before the resolution goes to council.

The motion the committee approved asked the chair/councilor to advance a version of the resolution that incorporated these changes and to require the city manager to include traffic fatality and serious-injury data in periodic reports to the governing body. The roll-call vote recorded unanimous approval of the committee motion to forward the amended recommendation to council (yes: Abel, Bart Gray, McConnell, Pilcher, Pengilly, Schiff Miller, Juan, Chair Garcia). The committee also discussed DOT county numbers (17 traffic deaths in Santa Fe County in 2024 vs. 15 in 2023) as context for the urgency of reporting.

Committee members said they expect the council and staff to refine benchmarks and reporting frequency (members suggested biannual or annual reporting) in follow-up drafting prior to formal council adoption.