Edmonton Cuts Traffic Deaths in Half with Vision Zero Initiative

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has achieved a remarkable milestone in its efforts to improve road safety. As part of its Vision Zero initiative, the city has successfully reduced traffic-related fatalities by an impressive 50% and serious injuries by 30% after upgrading nearly 400 crossings. The city now plans to tackle an additional 400 intersections over the next four years to further enhance road safety for its residents.

Why this matters: The success of Edmonton's Vision Zero initiative serves as a model for other cities to prioritize road safety and reduce traffic-related fatalities, which are a major public health concern globally. By adopting similar strategies, cities can create safer and more livable environments, ultimately saving lives and reducing the economic burden of traffic accidents.

Edmonton was the first city in Canada to adopt the Vision Zero strategy in 2015, following a tragic year that saw 35 lives lost to traffic violence. The city's comprehensive approach aims to make Edmonton a safe and attractive place for people to get around outside of their cars, combining the Vision Zero strategy with land use reforms to create a more livable and sustainable urban environment.

In 2020, Edmonton passed a package of reforms that eliminated single-family zoning and costly parking mandates. The city committed to reversing its low-density, auto-centric development pattern by pledging 50% of all development to be infill development within existing development patterns. Additionally, the city simplified the permitting process for smaller-scale developers to encourage more modest projects like infill, missing middle housing, and broader affordability.

The impact of these reforms has been significant. Lifting parking mandates proved especially useful during the pandemic, allowing businesses like Campio Brewing Company to convert underutilized parking lots into outdoor spaces. Urban planner Ashley Salvador hopes that the combined land use reforms will inject more people, families, and vibrancy into older city neighborhoods, providing more housing options and allowing seniors to age in place.

Salvador emphasizes the importance of reconsidering parking mandates, stating, "Ensuring parking may seem like a sensible way to accommodate those who drive, but in reality, the mandates compel cities to cede a large portion of their land to asphalt, preventing other types of land uses like restaurants, coffee shops, and even parks." Salvador

Edmonton's success in reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries through its Vision Zero initiative and land use reforms serves as an inspiring example for other cities looking to improve road safety and create more livable communities. With plans to upgrade an additional 400 intersections in the coming years, Edmonton is well on its way to becoming a model for safe, sustainable, and vibrant urban development.

Key Takeaways

• Edmonton, Canada reduces traffic fatalities by 50% and serious injuries by 30% through Vision Zero initiative.
• City upgrades nearly 400 crossings and plans to tackle 400 more intersections in 4 years.
• Edmonton eliminates single-family zoning and parking mandates to promote infill development and affordability.
• Lifting parking mandates allows businesses to convert lots into outdoor spaces, increasing vibrancy.
• Edmonton's approach serves as a model for cities to prioritize road safety and create livable communities.