City officials outline Vision Zero updates — more protected bike lanes, intersection work and speed enforcement

Deputy Managing Director Mike Carroll and other OTIS staff told council the administration will release a new Vision Zero action plan that includes engineering projects, automated speed enforcement and expanded community outreach to reduce traffic violence on high-injury corridors.

Carroll said the plan will prioritize programming safety on every mile of the high-injury network and include “narrowing of lanes,” physical protections for bike lanes, parking-protected bike lanes where appropriate and daylighting of intersections to improve pedestrian sightlines. He said the city will coordinate these engineering changes with the Philadelphia Parking Authority and other partners.

Carroll also said automated speed cameras and red-light cameras will continue to be implemented citywide and that those enforcement tools, together with capital projects, provide an opportunity to reduce vehicle speeds in neighborhoods. "We're coordinating this effort with new implementation of speed cameras and red light cameras... providing us an opportunity to directly reduce speeds in a lot of neighborhoods," he said.

Council members asked for education and outreach components. Carroll said the rollout will include community engagement and that the city will continue to work with bike advocacy groups and schools on awareness campaigns.

Why it matters: Vision Zero engineering and enforcement changes can alter street design, parking, and enforcement patterns and have direct effects on pedestrian and cyclist safety in neighborhoods across the city.

What’s next: OTIS plans to publish more detail in the upcoming Vision Zero action plan and to brief councils and stakeholders as projects and camera installations are scheduled.