Vision Zero Initiative

In the last five years, between 2019 and 2023, 42 people lost their lives in traffic crashes on surface streets in Syracuse, another 608 people were seriously injured. All told, the lives of 130 people on average are forever altered in crashes every year. These preventable tragedies affect people, families, communities, and our city.  

Since 2007, average traffic deaths in Syracuse have increased 34%. The number of people killed in traffic crashes is rising faster in Syracuse than in Onondaga County, the State of New York, and the nation as a whole.  

Some people bear the burden of traffic deaths and serious injuries more than others. People walking, rolling, and biking accounted for 46% of fatal crashes in the last five years and 34% of all fatal and serious injury crashes in the last five years. Black, Indigenous, and people of color in Syracuse experienced a per capita traffic fatality rate over twice that of people who identify as white alone and non-Hispanic/Latino. 

Syracuse is committed to reversing the trend, eliminating traffic deaths, and creating a more equitable, healthy, walkable, and bikeable city. This requires recognizing the responsibility that everyone – local, state and federal governments, the private sector, community organizations, and individuals – shares to make our roadways safe.  

Syracuse is developing a holistic Vision Zero Action Plan that will be our roadmap to reach our goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries from traffic crashes, based on four goals:  

1. Slow Vehicle Speeds so that when crashes occur, they do not result in tragedy. 

2. Design Safe Streets for people walking, rolling, and biking because when our streets are safe for people outside of vehicles, they are safer and more vibrant for everyone. 

3.  Promote a Culture of Safety by addressing the causes of hazardous behaviors and cultivating and deepening partnerships, especially with those most affected by traffic violence.  

4.  Commit Resources Equitably so everyone benefits from safe, connected, affordable, sustainable, and convenient travel options. 

We are pairing data analysis with the lived experience of community members to identify the greatest needs and match them with proven solutions delivered through proactive decisions and investments. Syracuse’s Action Plan will lay out how we will make safety our default practice in designing, maintaining, and operating complete streets.  

The Action Plan will also incorporate and provide next steps for several ongoing initiatives reducing speeding, making streets more walkable, and making getting around more equitable. Through the Action Plan, we will advance the Municipal Sidewalk Program (MSP), Supplemental Sidewalk Snow Removal Program, automated enforcement in school zones (speed, red light, and bus stop arm cameras), traffic calming (speed humps), signal updates, and access management.  

Work on the Vision Zero Action Plan began in Summer 2024. We anticipate completing the Safety Action Plan in Spring 2025.

To inform the Action Plan, we need to hear about your experiences with dangerous traffic safety issues in Syracuse and your ideas for what it would take to make our streets safe, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone. 

Where can I learn more about Vision Zero? 

The Vision Zero Network provides resources and case studies to illustrate the benefits of Vision Zero and provide best practices to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.  

Who else has committed to Vision Zero? 

Vision Zero originated in Sweden in 1997 and has since been adopted internationally and throughout the U.S. More than 50 cities in the U.S. have committed to Vision Zero. Other cities in New York including Rochester and New York City have adopted goals to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes. Many more cities and counties across the state and nation are drafting their commitments and safety action plans. The United States Department of Transportation has adopted and is implementing the National Roadway Safety Strategy, which has a Vision Zero goal. 

Who is leading the safety action plan? 

The City of Syracuse is leading the safety action plan. Department of Public Works is managing the project, but multiple departments are involved including Department of Engineering, Public Safety, Division of City Planning and Sustainability, as well as Common Council and the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council (SMTC). A Vision Zero Advisory Group is guiding the Vision Zero initiative.  

What’s the difference between Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach? 

Vision Zero is the commitment to eliminating deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes and Safe System is an approach to getting there. They both share the same principles and emphasize the role of designing streets for people and minimizing motor vehicle speeds.