So much has changed in Philadelphia since the first Vision Zero PHL conference 10 years ago, and this year’s theme, “Vision Zero at a Crossroads”, brings current challenges into sharper focus. As traffic fatalities across the country have been on the rise, pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users make up a higher percentage of victims than ever before. Philadelphia is not alone in grappling with how to implement effective & positive changes to combat the crisis. We invite you to join us as we explore strategies for mainstreaming Vision Zero and expanding the scale of proven-effective tools for use in our region.
The day-long conference at Temple University’s Howard Gittis Student Center South includes two Plenary Sessions. Traffic Calming as a Community Effort dives into two successful community-based traffic calming projects and explore show Philadelphia can scale up these projects to improve safety all across the city. The Future of Automated Traffic Enforcement brings together PA state legislators, tech companies, and Families for Safe Streets members in a robust discussion of how successful life-saving programs can be expanded to meet the needs of Philadelphia and other municipalities.
Six morning and afternoon Break-out Sessions offer attendees their choice of topics, including:
- Where Do Caps Fit in our Future? Panelists examine a finished cap project in Pittsburgh and compare the work being done on both the 95 cap and the Chinatown stitch.
- Isolated Safety. Medical professionals join the conversation, discussing the impact modern vehicles — designed for performance and prioritizing safety of occupants — are having on pedestrians & cyclists and in the ER.
- Do Cars Belong in Public Parks? In August 2023, a driver hit and critically injured a pedestrian and killed a cyclist, Mario D’Adamo, inside FDR Park. We will hear from stakeholders how FDR Park should respond to the safety concerns illuminated by this crash and how to plan for a safer park for all in the future.
- Cleaner, Greener, and Safer on North Broad Street. A case study looking at the economic developments and road safety improvements coming to North Broad Street as part of Mayor Parker’s Green, Clean and Safety initiatives, the main focus of her first 100 day plan for Philadelphia.
- Passing the Hat: Shared Transit Funding in PA. A stable, safe, and reliable transit system requires diverse funding and collaboration. This panel, hosted by Transit Forward Philadelphia, investigates those local, regional, and state players, and how their respective roles can give our transit the funding it needs.
- Learning From Our Neighbors. MoveForwardPGH was a two-year initiative of the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) to rapidly implement their new 2020 Bike(+) Plan, which calls for 120 miles of new or enhanced bicycle connections. We will hear from BikePGH, DOMI, POGOH, and Streetlight about the successes and learning opportunities of this program.
Stay tuned for an announcement about our keynote speakers! More information, including sponsorships, postering, and a link to purchase sliding-scale tickets, can be found here.
Many thanks to our Vision Zero PHL 2024 sponsors: AARP-PA, Jacobs Engineering, AECOM, Hayden AI, HNTB, Michael Baker International, Urban Engineers, WSP, Boles Smyth Associates Inc., Bowman, Greenman-Pedersen Inc, Jawnt, Kimley-Horn, Kittelson & Associates, McCormick Taylor, NV5, RK&K, Sam Schwartz, Traffic Planning and Design Inc., TranSystems, Gannett Fleming, Dawood Engineering Inc, Emily Fredricks Foundation, KMJ Consulting, Inc., OneBeautifulPlanet.org, Piscitello Law, Remington & Vernick Engineers, and Whitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP.