Durham presents Vision 0 action plan, urges targeted funding and staffing to cut traffic deaths

Durham staff presented the city’s draft Vision 0 action plan to the City Council on March 20, asking council to approve a strategy designed to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2035 and to end such fatalities by 2045.

Lauren Grove, the city’s Vision 0 coordinator, described the plan as a “safe‑systems” approach that centers agency coordination, safer infrastructure, land‑use changes, community engagement and speed management. “If we don't act, this plan, our Vision 0 resolution are just words on paper,” Grove said, urging the council to make the three commitments staff identified: prioritize safety improvements on the high‑injury network, establish dedicated funding for Vision 0 and allocate sufficient staffing across departments for implementation.

The action plan is built from four main inputs: community feedback from an interactive input map and in‑person events, crash data from 2017–2023, best practices (including a public‑health Safe Systems Pyramid) and guidance from staff and community coalition groups. City staff presented data showing that a small subset of streets — about 10% — account for 74% of traffic deaths and serious injuries, and that vulnerable road users (pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists) are overrepresented in fatal crashes.

Key staff actions in the next five years include updating the Unified Development Ordinance so new development supports multimodal safety; creating a street design manual to codify safer street crosssections and protected multimodal facilities; establishing a road safety audit program focused on the high‑injury network and areas around schools; building a quick‑build program to accelerate low‑cost countermeasures; and producing a speed management plan to reduce posted limits and support physical changes where needed.

Council members and stakeholders praised the plan and asked for further detail on metrics, project delivery speed and integration with budgeting. Councilmember Cook urged rapid deployment of quick‑build projects and an internal policy to streamline rapid implementations; Transportation Director Sean Egan said some quick builds are already underway and that the bond and resurfacing program offer opportunities to incorporate safety features quickly.

No formal council vote was recorded at the March 20 work session. Staff said the Vision 0 plan is intended to guide funding and policy decisions in the upcoming budget cycle and to align Durham’s approach with a regional safety action plan being developed by the Triangle West TPO.