The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2021-210, dated November 25, 2021, regarding implementation of the Vision Zero Strategy.
F. Hosseini presented the Report. B Cronkite, Aaron Mc Crimmon-Jones, and D. McGoldrick were in attendance and responded questions from the Committee.
L. Fu, University of Waterloo presented on his three-year research project related to the Vision Zero Strategy supported by the National Science and Union Research Council of Canada and contributions from the Region of Waterloo and City of Kitchener and Miovision. L. Fu spoke the following topics including but not limited to: the Vision Zero Movement's goal to reduce traffic fatalities; cities that have adopted the strategy over the past decade; fatalities before and after its adoption in North American cities and the challenges to quantify the effectiveness of these countermeasures. L. Fu explained their research intends to support the City of Kitchener Vision Zero Strategy with data analysis; network screening; best practices review with an evidence-based approach and the application of advanced technologies including video camera sensors, virtual mobility laboratory, among others.
In response to questions from the Committee, L. Fu explained that the proposed technologies would allow data collection to quantify the effectiveness of safety measures by studying other events in the traffic system than fatal coalitions and consequently define tangible goals for the program.
L. Maxwell, Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region was in attendance to support the Vision Zero.
D. Allen expressed concerns with the Zero Vision Strategy and the omission of the impacts of lighting and sidewalk winter maintenance on vehicle and pedestrian safety. D. Allen requested the City undertake sidewalk winter maintenance to improve walkability.
J. Broschek, Kitchener Cycling and trails Advisory Committee, was in attendance in support of Vision Zero Strategy. J. Broschek reviewed recommendations to staff including but not limited to: Vision Zero Sub-Committee research on safety practices across different municipalities; the program's support to more equitable infrastructure and environmental concerns; the needs for a broader stakeholder approach; speed limit changes in residential areas and the need to establish tangible goals for this program in the short and mid-term.