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Council reviews draft Target Zero Action Plan and opens short public comment period
Summary
City staff presented a draft Target Zero Action Plan to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries, introduced a ‘high‑injury network’ and three project packages for vulnerable users, speeds and signals, and asked the public to review the draft at engage.kentwa.gov.
David Payne, city transportation planner, and Eric Preston, city traffic engineer, presented the public draft of Kent’s Target Zero Action Plan, which sets a policy goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries and outlines prioritized, systemic countermeasures.
Payne described the plan’s development process, an eight‑member advisory group, three rounds of public engagement, and a new high‑injury network methodology that identifies corridors with the highest rates of serious injuries and fatalities. He said the plan adds a systemic safety lens beyond the city’s Local Road Safety Plan and is a prerequisite for several funding sources, including Safe Streets and Roads for All and PSRC program priorities.
Eric Preston explained the plan’s three project packages: Package A (safer crossings for vulnerable road users) emphasizes leading pedestrian intervals, enhanced crossings, raised crosswalks and lighting improvements; Package B focuses on speed management and appropriate speeds; Package C targets signal‑based improvements. Staff noted impairment (alcohol/drugs) has emerged as a prominent causal factor and that sidewalks alone do not eliminate risk in locations with high pedestrian activity.
Payne said the city’s high‑injury network excludes state routes under state control and that staff used equity mapping and outreach to inform prioritization. The city opened a short public comment period and an online survey on the project website (engage.kentwa.gov) asking whether the public supports the plan and what was missing. Staff said accepted grants and implementation options will follow the plan and that oversight and accountability include reporting to council and regional Task Force partners.
Council asked about lighting (49% of crashes occurred with lights on in initial data capture) and whether brighter lights or different fixtures were under consideration; staff said the crash field indicates the presence of lights being on but that lighting interventions require analysis and can be costly. Council members confirmed the plan will help qualify Kent for future grant programs and that staff will return with adoption steps after public comment.
