News 2019

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sampanlogo.png December 19th, 2019

Pedestrian safety issue affected elderly and children in Chinatown

According to Vision Zero Coalition, a group to advocate for the implementation of Vision Zero in Boston, the city of New York spends about $20 per person on Vision Zero program annually, and San Francisco spends $75 per person annually. In comparison, Boston is spending less than $5 per person.

Read the full PDF here


 December 12th, 2019

Bold design for a car-free span over Fort Point Channel would reflect a forward-looking city

More than a dozen pedestrians and cyclists have died from collisions with vehicles in the past three years in Cambridge alone, according to data from the Vision Zero Coalition. The number is even higher in Boston, the city on the opposite side of the Charles River.

Read the full PDF here


November 25th, 2019

Governor Baker Signs Legislation Requiring Hands-Free Use of Electronic Devices While Driving

More than a dozen pedestrians and cyclists have died from collisions with vehicles in the past three years in Cambridge alone, according to data from the Vision Zero Coalition. The number is even higher in Boston, the city on the opposite side of the Charles River.

Read the full PDF here


Image result for huffpost logo" November 18th, 2019

As New York Cracks Down On Fare Evasion, Another City Weighs Free Transit

More than a dozen pedestrians and cyclists have died from collisions with vehicles in the past three years in Cambridge alone, according to data from the Vision Zero Coalition. The number is even higher in Boston, the city on the opposite side of the Charles River.

Read the full PDF here


Boston-herald.svg.png November 17th, 2019

Safety advocates press for legislators to finally pass hands-free driving bill

Two days after lawmakers announced they’d reached an agreement on a hands-free driving bill, road safety advocates stood in front of the State House to recite the names of 72 victims of roadway crashes in Massachusetts and urge lawmakers to finally pass the legislation that is more than 10 years in the making.

Read the full PDF here


CBS Boston November 17th, 2019

Vigil Held At Mass. State House For Victims Of Traffic Accidents

Two days after lawmakers came to an agreement on legislation regarding distracted driving, advocates gathered at the Massachusetts State House Sunday to mourn those kill in crashes. Hosted by the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition, the vigil is part of World Day of Remembrance.

Read the full PDF here


 November 17th, 2019

Vigil to end motor vehicle crashes highlights safety measures, distracted driving legislation on Beacon Hill

Hundreds of yellow flowers were placed on the State House steps after the vigil in remembrance of those injured or killed in crashes so far this year. Members of the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition, which organized the vigil, have been advocating for the passage of hands-free legislation to prevent distracted driving.

Read the full PDF here


CBS Boston November 16th, 2019

Committee Reaches Compromise On Distracted Driving Bill In Massachusetts

“Road fatalities are international health crisis,” Thompson said. “We are incredibly grateful to the administration and to the Legislature to have really taken the hands-free bill seriously.”

Read the full PDF here


Image result for wbur logo November 16th, 2019

Top Negotiators Say They Have Distracted Driving Bill Deal

The chairmen announced their agreement ahead of a vigil planned for Sunday afternoon outside the State House where the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition has announced plans to remember victims killed in traffic crashes, highlight the increasing rate of pedestrians and bicyclists killed, and call for the bill's passage.

Read the full PDF here


Boston-herald.svg.png November 15th, 2019

Report: Distracted driving bill compromise reached

The chairmen announced their agreement ahead of a vigil planned for Sunday afternoon outside the State House where the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition has announced plans to remember victims killed in traffic crashes, highlight the increasing rate of pedestrians and bicyclists killed, and call for the bill’s passage.

Read the full PDF here


 November 15th, 2019

Street Safety Advocates Hold ‘Day of Remembrance’ Vigil This Sunday

The Massachusetts event is one of hundreds of vigils being held globally on the World Day of Remembrance on November 17, 2019. On Beacon Hill on Sunday, Vision Zero Coalition members including the Safe Roads Alliance, WalkBoston, LivableStreets Alliance, MassBike, and the Boston Cyclists Union will join forces to remember the victims of traffic violence and ask elected officials to vote on critical safety legislation like the “Act to prevent distracted driving” and legislation to allow towns to use automated cameras to enforce speed limits and red lights.

Read the full PDF here


Sentinel and Enterprise November 15th, 2019

Top Negotiators Say They Have Distracted Driving Bill Deal

The chairmen announced their agreement ahead of a vigil planned for Sunday afternoon outside the Statehouse where the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition has announced plans to remember victims killed in traffic crashes, highlight the increasing rate of pedestrians and bicyclists killed, and call for the bill’s passage.

Read the full PDF here


Boston-herald.svg.png November 14th, 2019

Act now to make Boston streets safe

Last year, 680 pedestrians and 425 cyclists were hit by cars on Boston streets, according to a report by Massachusetts Vision Zero, a coalition that advocates for the reduction of traffic injuries and fatalities across the state.

Read the full PDF here


 August 13th, 2019

Cambridge Vision Zero Progress Report Advances Ambitious Goals for Safer Streets

The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition and the City of Cambridge have released their first progress report on the city’s plan to eliminate crashes that result in serious injuries or fatalities...Louisa Gag, Public Policy and Operations Manager for LivableStreets, served on the subcommittee that worked with staff at Cambridge City Hall in the new report’s production, and she credits the city for working with advocates to hold itself accountable to its Vision Zero goals.

Read the full PDF here


sampanlogo.png August 12th, 2019

Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition and City of Cambridge release first Cambridge Vision Zero progress report

The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition and the City of Cambridge jointly release a Progress Report assessing the City of Cambridge’s implementation of its Vision Zero Action Plan. The Report outlines the City’s accomplishments and challenges faced in the first year after the release of the Vision Zero Cambridge Action Plan, and provides next steps for implementation.

Read the full PDF here


Logo-sharing.jpgMay 13th, 2019

Slowing down the ‘stroads’ of Boston

A recent policy report from the Vision Zero Coalition indicates the number of fatalities has been declining in Boston, falling from 21 in 2016 to 10 in 2018, with the number of pedestrian fatalities dropping from 14 to 7 over that time period. But the number of crashes that required response by emergency medical service teams actually increased slightly, rising from 4,355 in 2016 to 4,367 in 2018.

Read the full PDF here


WGBH_logo.PNG May 9, 2019

Pressure Mounts For Walsh to Deliver On Safer Streets

It’s been more than three years since Walsh announced a “Vision Zero” plan to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. And the Walsh administration has invested significant funding and staff power toward street improvements to curb speeding and reign in dangerous intersections. But the fact remains that on an average day in Boston, two or three pedestrians or bicyclists are hit and inured by cars. And the mayor is now facing mounting pressure from safe streets advocates, ordinary residents fed up with dangerous streets running through their neighborhoods, and the City Council to do more, much more, about Boston’s menacing streets. On Tuesday, in a Council hearing on the city’s transportation budget, Walsh administration officials got an earful from all three pressure points.

Read the full PDF here


Image result for boston neighborhood news network April 22, 2019

Boston Neighborhood News Network: Group Eye New Steps Toward "Vision Zero"

Louisa Gag of LivableStreets Alliance talks about progress toward the City's goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2030--and new steps to increase safety recommended by the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition.

Watch the full news clip here


logo-patch-800x600.png April 22, 2019

680 Pedestrians Were Hit By Cars In Boston In 2018: Vision Zero

Last year, 680 pedestrians and 425 cyclists were struck by cars in the city, according to Vision Zero's progress report. For the past three years, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition has been reviewing the city's progress toward eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by the year 2030. To that end, they study data and then release it annually showing progress and make recommendations on how the city could get to fewer fatalities.

Read the full PDF here


sampanlogo.png April 18, 2019

Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition Releases Third Boston Vision Zero Progress Report

The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition releases its third annual Progress Report assessing the City of Boston’s implementation of its Vision Zero Action Plan. This Report evaluates the City’s performance thus far and provides policy recommendations for how Mayor Walsh and the City Council can commit to safer streets in Boston. The Report finds that the increased staff capacity and funding heighten the need for strong inter-departmental collaboration, and the Coalition recommends that relevant departments develop clear organizational structures and a system of accountability for sharing data and other collaboration.

Read the full PDF here


newdotbanner.jpg April 18, 2019

Safe Streets Activists Propose Merger of City Depts.

In its annual progress report, the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition said Boston has made good progress to reduce traffic fatalities -- to the point that having "zero fatalities by 2030 is achievable" -- but has seen a rise in crashes causing injuries and must do more to protect bicyclists and pedestrians. The coalition noted that the city's commissioner of public works job is currently vacant and Transportation Commissioner Gina Fiandaca is due to depart for a job in Texas next week. They proposed that Mayor Martin Walsh "combine the Public Works and Transportation Departments into one, integrated agency."

Read the full PDF here


boston25newslogo.jpg April 18, 2019

Report: Drop in fatal car crashes in Boston, but non-fatal hold steady

The number of deadly car crashes in Boston has dropped by nearly half in the last three years, according to a report from the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition, an organization that advocates for policies that make roads and highways safer. The report found that in 2018 there were 10 fatal crashes on Boston streets, down from 14 in 2017 and 21 in 2016, according to the report. But safety advocates say the number of non-fatal crashes has remained steady with an average of 12 per day.

Read the full PDF here, and watch the full news clip here


Screen_Shot_2019-04-18_at_10.34.42_AM.png April 18, 2019

Boston Streets Safer Since City Launched Effort to Curb Accidents, but Work Remains

The number of fatal crashes on Boston streets has dropped significantly since Mayor Marty Walsh enlisted the city in the Vision Zero roadway safety movement in 2015. That is according to a recent report from a group called the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition, which used city data to show that the number of fatal crashes on Boston streets involving cars, bikes, or pedestrians declined to 10 in 2018 from 21 in 2016.

Read the full PDF here.


Boston_Globe_Logo.png April 17, 2019

Report: Traffic Crashes in Boston Resulting in Less Fatalities, but Not Injuries

The Vision Zero Coalition annual report card for the city released Wednesday noted the decrease in roadway fatalities from 21 in 2016 to 10 last year. But the number of bicyclists, pedestrians and people in cars injured stood at 4,367 in 2018 versus to 4,355 two years before. “It’s a public health crisis,” said Stacy Thompson of Livable Streets Alliance, one of the main organizations in the Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition, which is part of a national initiative to reduce injuries and deaths from crashes... “Four thousand people annually is not insignificant.” Brendan Kearney of WalkBoston, a nonprofit involved with Vision Zero, said fixing (the lack of crash data) should be a top priority. “If they’re not able to report this data, they are potentially missing out on funding for safety efforts,” Kearney said.

Read the full PDF here


wwlp-nbc-09272016.jpg March 8, 2019

Governor Baker Highlights Proposed Improvements to Road Safety

The proposals to increase road safety being made by the Baker-Polito Administration stem, in part, from discussions with members of the Massachusetts Legislature, strategies outlined in the 2018 Massachusetts Strategic Highway Safety Plan and input from key stakeholders like The Massachusetts Vision Zero Coalition and various law enforcement professionals.

Read the full PDF here.