Boston Region MPO Vision Zero Action Plan

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The USDOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program is accepting applications. Because the Boston Region MPO is developing a regional Vision Zero Action Plan, all municipalities in the region are eligible to apply for Planning and Demonstration Grants. If your municipality has its own qualifying action plan, you are also eligible to apply for an Implementation Grant.

For more information visit the USDOT SS4A website.

Due dates for Planning and Demonstration Grants:

• April 4, 2024, 5:00 PM
• May 16, 2024, 5:00 PM
• August 29, 2024, 5:00 PM

Due date for Implementation Grants: May 16, 2024, 5:00 PM

Please reach out with any questions about eligibility or project types to Ali Kleyman at akleyman@ctps.org.

Vision Zero Action Plan

The Boston Region MPO is creating a Vision Zero Action Plan for the 97 cities and towns in the Boston region. This work is funded by a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) planning grant from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the new SS4A discretionary program, with $5 billion in appropriated funds over five years (2022–26). Vision Zero is an internationally recognized strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. The Boston Region MPO was awarded $2.16 million from USDOT and received 20 percent matching funds from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, bringing the total grant amount to $2.7 million.

Safety is an essential focus of the MPO and is one of the major goals identified in the MPO’s Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Destination 2050. The Vision Zero Action Plan developed under this study will address the safety-related needs identified in the Destination 2050 Needs Assessment, set the roadmap for achieving the MPO’s Vision Zero goal, and allow the MPO and municipalities in the region to apply for SS4A Implementation Grant funds in future years. Equity is incorporated throughout the MPO’s work and will be integral to the Vision Zero Plan development, including the creation of the Vision Zero Task Force to bring a variety of perspectives to the planning process, a safety analysis focused on particular equity populations, stakeholder engagement and collaboration with equity populations, and development of recommendations for changes in policies, processes, and safety projects that lead to a more equitable region.

In developing the Vision Zero Action Plan, the MPO will adopt the Safe System approach that deems deaths and serious injuries unacceptable, focuses on safety for people, acknowledges that humans make mistakes, and builds redundancies to prevent severe crashes. The Vision Zero Action Plan will include analysis of crash data to identify trends and high-risk corridors, engagement with communities disproportionately impacted by roadway safety issues, and the formulation of evidence-based, data-driven policy and project recommendations.

The final Vision Zero Action Plan, with an anticipated completion date of June 2025, will provide a framework that will unlock additional safety project and program implementation funds for municipalities in future SS4A funding rounds.

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Vision Zero Task Force

The Vision Zero Task Force is a group of stakeholders brought together to help shape the action plan. The Task Force will provide targeted feedback, guidance, and recommendations on

• goal and target setting,
• methodological procedures for the roadway safety analysis and interpretation of results,
• engagement strategy and outcomes,
• equity considerations,
• existing policies that influence roadway safety and new policy creation, 
• safety improvement strategies, and
• implementation of the plan, 
• safety improvement strategies, and
• implementation of the plan.

The Vision Zero Task Force had its first meeting on February 13, 2024. The meeting provided a chance for members to share concerns about mobility safety in the Boston region and why they are excited to work towards Vision Zero at the regional scale. The next meeting will be later in the summer when the Task Force will begin to delve into safety data and plan for public engagement.

Vision Zero Task Force Members

Coming Soon - Bios of the Vision Zero Task Force members

We are excited to have a broad representation of stakeholders on our Task Force, including representation from multiple levels of municipal leadership; advocates for walking, biking, schools, and accessibility; and our state and Federal partners.

Preliminary Data

Fatal Motor Vehicle Related Crashes in the Boston Region MPO, 2016-22

Contact

Ali Kleyman, Principal Planner, Vision Zero Program, akleyman@ctps.org