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Barnstable County endorses Vision Zero goals to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries
Summary
Barnstable County commissioners voted to adopt a regional Vision Zero statement committing to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050 and to pursue an interim 50% reduction by 2035, following a presentation of crash data and community outreach plans by commission staff.
Barnstable County commissioners on Feb. 12 voted to adopt a Vision Zero statement, endorsing a regional goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050 and an interim goal to cut fatalities and serious injuries by 50% by 2035.
Steve Tupper, deputy director of the Cape Cod Commission, described the Vision Zero action plan and the data the team has compiled. “Vision 0 is the vision to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries,” Tupper said, and he said the plan is focused on “vulnerable road users” such as pedestrians and bicyclists.
Staff said the plan, funded in part through a federal grant, is midway through development and aims to qualify towns for implementation funding. Tupper presented crash findings covering a six‑year span: an average of about 13 crashes per day on Cape Cod, a pedestrian or cyclist struck roughly every three days, 81 fatal crashes and 664 serious injuries in the six‑year window. The commission created a Vision Zero advisory committee including town public‑works, emergency‑response and community representatives, and has collected more than 800 public comments through an online portal.
The Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has already committed to the same Vision Zero targets. Commissioners and staff discussed the role of the county in convening local partners, pursuing relatively low‑cost safety measures such as visibility equipment and helmet distribution for seasonal workers, and preparing towns to compete for federal implementation funds. Colleen Medeiros, identified by staff as the project lead, was noted as coordinating seasonal workforce outreach and safety measures.
Action: A commissioner moved to adopt the Vision Zero statement as presented; the motion passed by voice vote.
Ending: Staff said the project will return with more detailed recommendations and implementation funding opportunities; commissioners encouraged outreach to towns and noted that small, low‑cost interventions can be effective while larger infrastructure changes are pursued.
