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Council reviews Target Zero draft to seek systemic traffic-safety projects, with emphasis on equity and high-injury network
Summary
City transportation staff presented the Target Zero Action Plan draft to adopt an aspirational goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries, prioritize a high-injury network, bundle engineering and non-engineering countermeasures, and seek funding from regional programs such as Safe Streets and Roads for All and PSRC.
Kent transportation staff presented the draft Target Zero Action Plan to the council committee on May 20, outlining a goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries and proposing a data-driven, equitable and multidisciplinary approach to reduce severe crashes.
David Payne, city transportation planner, said the Target Zero goal was adopted into the city's comprehensive plan and that the action plan reiterates and operationalizes an aspirational goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries. The plan includes a systematic analysis identifying a high-injury network and bundles countermeasures into three packages: safer crossings for vulnerable road users, appropriate speeds, and safer signal treatments.
Payne said staff used a safe-system approach and consulted an advisory group that included the Kent School District, Washington State Department of Transportation, Kent Police Department, the county Target Zero task force and fire and traffic-safety partners. Public engagement included a citywide survey (about 450 comments) and 15 in-person events that generated roughly 400 additional comments. The draft plan was released for public comment in February and comments were described as generally supportive.
Transportation engineering manager Rob Brown explained lane-width reduction is a relatively low-cost, highly effective engineering treatment: restriping can create buffers between vehicle travel lanes and sidewalks without curb reconstruction, increasing visual “friction” and slowing vehicle speeds.
Council members asked about non-engineering approaches such as media campaigns and progressive ticketing; Patrick, the city CAO, noted traffic fines are paid into the Kent Municipal Court and cautioned that municipal collections are low and enforcement resources are limited. Council members also asked whether having the plan improves grant competitiveness; Payne said PSRC gives point bonuses for plans and some WSDOT grants require systemic analyses.
Payne said next steps include a referral for adoption and, if favorably referred, placement on the consent agenda for council adoption in June.
