San Diego council unanimously backs resolution to make street safety top transportation priority

The San Diego City Council on Monday voted unanimously to adopt a resolution affirming street safety as the city’s highest transportation-related policy priority and directing the Office of the Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) to analyze existing municipal codes and recommend policy changes and a prioritization for quick-build road-safety projects.

Policy advisors Jeffrey Nguyen and Jordan Latchford introduced the three-part resolution, telling the council the action would direct the IBA to review relevant municipal code and council policies and present recommendations to the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "We are bringing forward a resolution to affirm safety as the City of San Diego's highest transportation related priority and to direct the independent budget analyst to analyze current policies and provide the council policy recommendations regarding street safety," one presenter said during the staff presentation. Presenters cited Vision Zero and recent policy work and highlighted that pedestrian intersection fatalities are a leading cause of traffic deaths in the city.

The move drew extensive public support during the meeting’s public-comment period. Residents and advocates described near-misses and fatal crashes and urged immediate, practical measures such as marked crosswalks, protected bike lanes, speed-calming measures and banning right turns on red at specific intersections. "The single most impactful thing you could do for pedestrian safety would cost the city dollars 0, and that is to disallow right turns on red," said a resident who identified himself as living in East Village.

During council discussion, members asked the IBA to look at strengthening criteria such as pedestrian-volume warrants, illumination warrants, and to consider vulnerable users in any updated policy metrics. Councilmember Whitburn moved the recommendation and the council president seconded; the clerk recorded an 8–0 vote in favor with Councilmember Campbell absent. The resolution directs the IBA to coordinate with transportation staff, the city attorney’s office and present prioritized recommendations to the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for possible quick-build implementation.