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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-18-2022; 8-d - Orange County Vision Zero Policy and Complete Street Policy 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: October 18, 2022 Action Agenda Item No. 8-d SUBJECT: Orange County Vision Zero Policy and Complete Street Policy DEPARTMENT: Orange County Transportation Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. Vision Zero Policy Resolution Nishith Trivedi, Transportation Director, 2. Complete Street Policy Resolution 919-245-2007 PURPOSE: To approve resolutions adopting the Orange County Vision Zero Policy and Complete Street Policy. BACKGROUND: The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently released the funding notice for the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program to support regional, local, and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. In order for the Orange County to position itself to apply for future safety action plan implementation funding, official public commitments (e.g., resolution, policies, ordinances, etc.) are required. OUTBoard Recommendation: September 21, 2022 — The OUTBoard unanimously recommended the BOCC approve the Orange County Vision Zero Policy and the Complete Street Policy by resolution, with minor additions. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no immediate financial impact associated with this item. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: CREATE A SAFE COMMUNITY The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang activity, substance abuse and domestic violence ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The following Orange County Environmental Goal is applicable to this item: • CLEAN OR AVOIDED TRANSPORTATION Implement programs that monitor and improve local and regional air quality by: 1) promoting public transportation options; 2) decreasing dependence on single-occupancy vehicles, and 3) otherwise minimizing the need for travel. RECOMMENDATIONS: The Manager recommends Board approve the resolutions for the Orange County Vision Zero Policy and Complete Street Policy. 2 RES-2022-056 Attachment 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF A VISION ZERO POLICY TO ELIMINATE FATALITIES AND SERIOUS INJURIES THAT RESULT FROM CRASHES WITHIN THE ORANGE COUNTY AREA BY YEAR 2050 The motion to approve the following resolution was offered by and seconded by and upon being put to a vote was duly adopted. WHEREAS,hundreds of crashes occur in the County each year,resulting in fatalities and serious injuries; and WHEREAS, the number of people dying and suffering serious injuries on our streets is a serious public health problem which necessitates public action; and WHEREAS, crash reduction efforts necessitate a comprehensive and specific approach to street planning, design, policy, enforcement, legal processes, education, and communication; and WHEREAS, crashes that result in death or serious injury are not inevitable but largely preventable; and WHEREAS, Orange County acknowledges the importance of everyone traveling safely within their communities and that the only acceptable goal is to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for all; and WHEREAS,a commitment to Vision Zero is a commitment to saving lives and ensuring equitable investment in the safety needs of underserved communities in our region; and WHEREAS, it is the role of government to do its part to serve and protect the populace; and WHEREAS, Orange County in coordination with Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization, Burlington-Graham Metropolitan Planning Organization and Triangle Area Rural Planning Organization support North Carolina Department of Transportation efforts to meet the state's safety targets per Federal legislations and to support the North Carolina State Highway Safety Plan goal to reduce fatalities and serious injuries by half by 2035,moving towards zero by 2050; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners has found that the County is conducting transportation planning in a continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive manner; and WHEREAS, Orange County and its member jurisdictions have a strong history of commitment to prioritizing safety and the Comprehensive Transportation Plan,the Metropolitan Transportation Plan, and local governments' transportation plans have made demonstrable progress to improve safety by making systemic changes in the way the transportation network is planned,programmed, designed, constructed, and operated; and 3 WHEREAS,Orange County will take a proactive approach to develop an effective Transportation Safety Plan built on a foundation of Safe Systems principles and elements that will translate into evidence-based implementation processes; and WHEREAS, creating safer streets is likely to encourage the use of more active transportation options, thereby increasing population health, access to healthy foods and active transportation options; and WHEREAS, Orange County Transportation Services will plan and implement transportation projects with equity at its forefront, striving to impact the most vulnerable and dependent users of the most dangerous roadways of the transportation network in the effort to ensure outcomes will be experienced equitably throughout the region; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Orange County agrees to support, plan and program projects that commit to a goal of zero deaths and serious injuries that are a result of crashes by 2050; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Orange County is dedicated to measuring the progress, challenges, and successes of the Vision Zero commitment and will do so with tangible,reportable metrics that will be reported upon on an annual basis. 4 RES-2022-057 Attachment 2 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF ORANGE COUNTY COMPLETE STREETS POLICY The motion to approve the following resolution was offered by and seconded by and upon being put to a vote was duly adopted. WHEREAS,the Orange County Board of County Commissioners(BOCC)has found that Orange County is conducting transportation planning in a continuous, cooperative, and comprehensive manner in accordance with 23 USC 134 and 49 USC 1607; and WHEREAS,the BOCC expressed its support for the comprehensive implementation of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Complete Streets Policy in all of its applicable region transportation plans and highway projects as a matter of common practice; and WHEREAS, Orange County supports local member jurisdictions' Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grants applications; and WHEREAS, Orange County knows that by balancing all transportation modes and accommodating all users, adopting a Complete Street policy will help to encourage the planning, design and construction of safer streets and ensures that the transportation system benefits all users equitably; and WHEREAS, a Complete Streets policy can help calm traffic, enhance economic opportunities, increase physical activity, and create safer environments for residents and visitors; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Orange County affirms its support of Complete Streets in the planning, design and construction of highway projects.