Delta Council Endorses Vision Zero Strategy to Enhance Safety

Vision Zero Strategy

At the September 9, 2024 Regular Meeting, Delta Council unanimously endorsed the City’s Vision Zero Strategy, a pivotal road safety initiative that reaffirms Delta’s steadfast commitment to community safety. This comprehensive strategy is designed to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Delta’s roads, ensuring that every resident can navigate the City’s transportation network with confidence and security.

Delta’s Vision Zero Strategy was shaped by a comprehensive analysis of collision data, valuable input from the community and stakeholders, and a detailed assessment of road safety best practices. 

Delta’s Vision Zero Strategy is rooted in three guiding principles:

  • Reducing fatalities and serious injuries on Delta’s roads;
  • Improving connections to schools, parks, and community services; and
  • Addressing the needs of vulnerable road users, including older adults and children.

The strategy is built on a Safe Systems Approach, which layers multiple forms of protection for road users, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and embracing the right to safe mobility for everyone. 

“Safety is the cornerstone of a thriving community, and our Vision Zero Strategy reflects our dedication to making Delta a safer place for everyone,” said Mayor George V. Harvie. “This initiative challenges us to rethink how we approach transportation, fostering a culture of shared responsibility where drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and public transit users all play a role in creating safer streets.”

The Vision Zero Strategy aims to reduce serious injuries and fatalities by at least 5% annually, with a target of a 25% reduction by 2030. To achieve this, Delta has approved a three-phase implementation plan that includes a wide range of safety measures. Phase one, already underway, includes the installation of speed humps and raised crosswalks at 17 elementary schools across Delta. In addition, the City completed a Scott Road Safety Review and a study of high-crash intersections. Recommended improvements from the Scott Road Safety Review, including protected left turns and center medians, were implemented as part of the R6 Scott Road RapidBus Project. 

Moving forward, Delta’s Engineering staff will collaborate with community stakeholders and other agencies such as Delta Police, ICBC, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, about how the City can successfully implement the Vision Zero strategy to save lives, prevent injuries, and prioritize public safety.

For more information on this news release, please contact media@delta.ca.