Pierce County Council adopts Vision 0 action plan to reduce traffic deaths by 2035

Pierce County on Tuesday adopted a Vision 0 action plan aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries on county roadways by 2035, voting 4-3 to approve Resolution R2025-132.

The plan, developed by Planning and Public Works with consultant DKS Associates and funded in part by a federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant, outlines engineering, education and enforcement strategies—plus grant-seeking priorities—to target roadway segments and user groups at highest risk.

Why it matters: County staff say the plan makes Pierce County eligible for federal implementation grants and helps prioritize safety investments at the local level. Supporters argued the plan gives the council a toolbox of evidence-based options and improves the county’s competitiveness for large federal grants. Opponents warned about costs, limits of engineering solutions and the need to prioritize enforcement and basic road preservation.

The plan and vote Planning and Public Works staff and consultant Brian Chandler briefed the council on the plan’s genesis, public outreach and emphasis areas, saying the county analyzed crash data and more than two years of stakeholder input to produce dozens of candidate strategies. "There is no single silver bullet to get to 0, but a combination of these strategies is what can allow us to move towards a safer transportation system," Chandler said during a short presentation prepared for the council.

Council policy staff Erica Rhett Hunt told the council that preparation of the action plan was directed by an earlier council resolution and that the development contract cost $500,000, of which $400,000 came from federal SS4A grant funds and $100,000 from county road funds as the local match.

Supporters cited the local toll of traffic violence. County Executive Ryan Mello urged adoption, saying the plan is “a safe systems approach that will save lives.” He referenced local crash statistics presented in the packet: between 2018 and 2022 Pierce County recorded 108 fatal crashes and 296 serious-injury crashes.

Opponents and concerns Sheriff Keith Swank, who testified before the council, criticized Vision 0 as focused on engineering and planning rather than policing. "Lawbreakers, not a lack of regulations, are the primary cause of injury and death on our roads," Swank said, urging greater emphasis on enforcement and patrols.

Several council members acknowledged enforcement must be part of the strategy. Vice Chair Herrera said the plan must include law-enforcement engagement and that without that support the package could "tip over and fail." Other councilmembers expressed concerns about long-term funding and the county’s ability to pay for large-scale implementation while noting that adoption itself does not commit the county to immediate spending.

Public comment More than two dozen residents and advocates spoke in public comment. Family members of crash victims urged adoption. Amber Wyler, whose son Michael died in a 2022 crash, told the council, “Vision 0 will make our roads safer… No other mom should have to go through and endure the agony of losing a child.” Bicycle, public-health and community groups also urged approval and pushed for implementation funding and town-level outreach.

Outcome and next steps The council voted to adopt Resolution R2025-132 by a 4-3 margin. The plan’s adoption makes Pierce County eligible to apply for federal SS4A implementation grants and other safety funding programs, which county staff said could support larger projects. Any project-level funding would still require separate council review and approval, and staff said implementation would proceed through existing budgeting and project-selection processes.

The vote was 4 ayes and 3 nays, after an extended public hearing and council debate. Following adoption, staff said the next steps include grant applications and continued community engagement to prioritize projects and strategies.

Acknowledgement Council members and staff thanked the many residents and stakeholder groups who participated in the plan development and the families who testified.