The 2023 Vision Zero PHL Conference returns to an in-person format on Friday, March 31st, at Temple University’s Student Center South. This year’s focus, “Creating an Equitable Future with Zero Traffic Fatalities”, seeks to address the disparities seen across racial and socio-economic lines by highlighting funding opportunities, neighborhood-based strategies, multimodal transit impact, and successful case studies from around the Philadelphia region and beyond.
The day-long conference kicks off at 9:00am with a morning plenary session, “Federal Infrastructure Funding Impact on Vision Zero and Racial Equity”, where attendees can learn how local agencies are leveraging millions of dollars in federal funds to create safer streets for all modes and to reconnect neighborhoods divided by freeways built decades ago. Speakers will discuss how agencies are implementing projects with an equity framework including community partnerships, workforce development, and capacity building for minority-owned businesses.
Following the main session, attendees have their choice of three break-out sessions: “The Future of Automated Speed Enforcement”, “Creating a More Equitable Chestnut Street”, and “Equitable Transit Strategies and the Effect on Vision Zero”. Mayor Jim Kenney will offer some remarks prior to a catered luncheon featuring speaker Veronica Vanterpool, Deputy Administrator at the Federal Transit Administration.
The second half of the conference begins in break-out sessions (“Looking Back to Look Ahead: A Retrospective of Philly’s Vision Zero”, “Environmental Justice on Route 291”, and “Neighborhood Scale Vision Zero Programs”) and concludes at 3:30pm after the final plenary session, “Best Practice for Community Engagement in Vision Zero Planning”, where a panel comprised of both municipal staff and neighborhood residents reflect on effective and meaningful community engagement as it relates to Vision Zero.
Several opportunities will be provided for attendees to connect and learn more about Vision Zero-related studies in planning, design, and community development from selected participants in the first ever Vision Zero PHL postering competition.
View the full conference schedule.
Register to attend the 2023 Vision Zero PHL Conference.
Attendees are encouraged to stay for the 2023 Better Mobility Mayoral Forum that will start at 4:00pm, presented by the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and AARP Pennsylvania. All Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates are invited to participate in a panel discussion moderated by Daniel Pearson, Inquirer Editorial Writer.
The discussion will center around the 2023 Better Mobility Platform, a document co-created by the Bicycle Coalition and a coalition of 10 organizations that proposes four high-level goals for the incoming administration: (1) reduce annual traffic deaths in half by 2026; (2) motivate 1 out of every 2 Philadelphians to bike, walk, or take transit to work; (3) reimagine and redesign streets to prioritize human life, public health, and community; and (4) provide every resident with access to safe streets and sidewalks to get to school or work, to play, and to enjoy Philadelphia and its neighborhoods.
The Mayoral Forum is free and open to the public, though reservation is required. Register here.