Glendale hears progress update on Vision Zero safety plans, staff to refine crash data and focus areas

Marta Gerber, project manager with Stanley Consultants, told the Glendale City Council on June 23 that her team had completed a seven‑year crash analysis (2018–2024) and used those data to create a hotspot trend map and a 146‑mile high‑injury network that will drive the city's Vision Zero and Safety Action Plan.

"The analysis shown on the screen encompasses 7 years of data between 2018 and 2024," Gerber said, and explained the hotspot map uses color coding to indicate changes in fatal and serious‑injury crashes (red for increases above 50 percent, yellow for 0–50 percent, green for decreases). She said elevated facilities managed by ADOT—specifically I‑17 and SR‑101—were excluded from the analysis.

Gerber described a points‑based method used to identify the high‑injury network and said locations scoring more than 1,000 points were prioritized for countermeasures. She said the study combines the quantitative crash record with qualitative feedback from public engagement—including surveys and stakeholder meetings—and that a core team of Glendale Police, Fire and city departments guided the focus areas.

The consultant outlined six proposed focus areas: human behavior (education, enforcement and a potential city pledge), general strategies and policies (complete streets, context‑based speed setting), safety‑related data (annual reporting and predictive modeling), intersections (signal and geometric changes to reduce conflicts), roadway segments (access management and speed reductions), and vulnerable road users (bike lanes, sidewalk connectivity and attention to a higher‑than‑typical motorcycle crash rate).

Council members pressed staff for additional detail. The Mayor asked whether the analysis could show how many crashes and what percentage are attributable to red‑light running; Gerber said that breakdown exists and staff would provide it. Councilmember Turner urged staff to report absolute counts as well as percentages so the council can understand whether a 50 percent change represents one crash or many.

Councilmembers also asked about specific corridors flagged on the maps—several cited Olive Avenue—and whether local improvements already made were reflected in historical totals. Staff said the dataset runs through 2024 and that future annual reports will show trends after recent projects.

Gerber said the next steps include developing speed and neighborhood safety assessments, defining physical countermeasures this summer, conducting public engagement phase two through the fall, and returning early next year with a draft and final Vision Zero and Safety Action Plan to seek adoption and federal funding opportunities.