Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Vision Zero topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee reports Oʻahu Vision Zero action plan to council; staff say plan readies city for federal safety grants
Summary
The committee voted to report Resolution 25‑1 adopting the final Oʻahu Vision Zero Action Plan (Aug. 2024). City transportation staff described the plan’s crash data, funding needs and its role in improving competitiveness for federal discretionary grants.
The Committee on Planning, Infrastructure and Transportation on Thursday recommended that the council adopt the Oʻahu Vision Zero Action Plan through Resolution 25‑1, a safety action plan intended to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on Oʻahu’s streets.
Council Member Dos Santos Tam, the resolution introducer, said the plan is part of the city’s effort to eliminate pedestrian deaths. "There have been three traffic fatalities so far this year, and that's three too many," he told the committee. Department of Transportation Services (DTS) Director‑designate Roger Morton and Complete Streets staff described the plan's data, priorities and funding implications.
Plan and funding details: Morton told the committee the island averages roughly one traffic fatality per week and 250–300 serious life‑changing injuries annually. He said the plan helps prioritize countermeasures and strengthen applications for federal discretionary funding. Written materials attached to the committee record estimate annual investment needs of $44–48 million and total needs up to roughly $755 million over 15 years; Morton said an annual local share would be about $9 million if federal funds covered most costs.
Implementation and updates: Renee Espio, Complete Streets administrator, said the plan is a living document; DPP/DTS staff plan to maintain an online crash dashboard and update technical appendices. Espio told the committee a typical city planning update cycle is about five years but staff will track crashes continuously and update the plan as projects complete and new injury patterns emerge.
Public and stakeholder input: Donald Sakamoto, a blind advocate with the National Federation of the Blind, testified to the committee and urged that roundabouts and other facilities include audible signals or beacons to help visually impaired pedestrians. Morton and staff said the plan supports accessibility engagement and that funding and project prioritization will consider equity and ADA improvements.
Committee action: after discussion the chair recommended the resolution be reported out for adoption; no objections were recorded and the committee ordered the measure to the full council.
