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Council moves forward with Vision Zero slow-zone pilot on Near East Side
Summary
Council approved an ordinance authorizing a pilot for neighborhood slow zones on the Near East Side under the City's Vision Zero initiative, funded in part by a $1.38 million federal Safe Streets for All grant and up to $250,000 from city bond and federal grant funds for engineering and temporary materials.
Columbus's Public Service and Transportation Committee advanced a Vision Zero pilot to test neighborhood slow zones on the Near East Side, with council approving an ordinance to transfer funds and authorize contracting to develop temporary traffic-calming measures.
Councilmember Barosa de Padilla introduced ordinance 35 64 20 24, saying the pilot grew from neighborhood advocacy and is intended to demonstrate how temporary materials could be used to guide future neighborhood slow-zone efforts. The ordinance authorizes an expenditure of up to $250,000 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and the Federal Transportation Grants Fund to contract with a vendor for engineering and planning services. The project is supported by a $1,380,000 federal Safe Streets for All grant the city was awarded to reach Vision Zero goals.
Director Scocco of the Department of Public Service told council the department will partner with the Near East Area Commission on outreach and implementation and that the Near East Side was selected because its street network and characteristics are representative of other urban-core areas. "This is a project that the Department of Public Service, along with our Vision 0 team, we're very excited to start this pilot," Scocco said.
Council moved and passed the ordinance at second reading; council members noted the pilot responds to long-standing neighborhood concerns and could inform broader traffic-calming investments.
