Cities, towns present plans for safer roads

All local municipalities in West Orange now have presented their findings from their individual Vision Zero Safety Action Plans.

The plans from the towns of Oakland and Windermere and the cities of Winter Garden and Ocoee are part of the broader Vision Zero initiative.

The goal is to integrate safety principles during the planning and implementation of transportation programs countywide, as well as to reduce the number of fatalities and severe injuries on the transportation system to zero by 2040.

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CREATING SAFETY ACTION PLANS

The Orange-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area continues to rank as one of the deadliest traffic areas, and the average annual deaths continue to rise. 

In 2022, there were 209 fatalities and 1,208 severe injuries on Orange County’s roadways. 

Municipalities that wished to obtain grants for roadway projects under the Safe Streets and Roads for All were required to draft a comprehensive Safety Action Plan before being able to obtain implementation grant funding. 

MetroPlan obtained a $3.8 million federal Safe Streets for All grant, which allowed the organization to create a Safety Action Plan for each municipal entity within the MetroPlan region as part of their commitment to the Vision Zero program. 

This act allowed the municipalities to proceed forward with applying for implementation funds for roadway and safety enhancements to local roadways.

A Vision Zero Safety Action Plan includes: a high injury network, equity component, list of priority streets and intersections, educational and enforcement programs, and sustained efforts.

TOWN OF OAKLAND

Oakland presented its Vision Zero plan Tuesday, June 24, at the Town Commission meeting.

The action plan was developed using crash analysis, public outreach and a working group with Town Manager Andy Stewart, public works and the police department.

From 2018 to 2022, there were 124 total crashes, with two severe injuries and zero fatalities. Of these, three were pedestrian crashes and three were bicycle crashes.

Twenty-seven percent of all the crashes involved either drugs, alcohol or distracted driving. 

Based on these results, four safety improvement projects were identified, with the most expensive being $570,000 for Oakland Avenue from Florida’s Turnpike to Jefferson Street. The project ranked of highest importance was State Road 50 to Tubb Street in the amount of $20,000.

“The transportation safety projects identified in the study will be implemented through local funding, as well as federal grant funding,” Stewart said. “This document was created with involvement from the entire community and will be used as a resource for the decision-making process. ... This is just the beginning of a joint and collaborative effort among local, state and federal governmental agencies to accomplish the goal of zero traffic fatalities on our roadways in Oakland.”   

CITY OF OCOEE

Ocoee presented its Vision Zero plan Tuesday, Aug. 20, at the City Commission meeting.

In Ocoee, 46% of the population lives in a community considered to be transportation underserved, and 55% of all crashes and 70% of fatal crashes occur in or adjacent to transportation underserved communities. Many of these crashes involved a severe injury or fatality. As fatal and severe injury crashes disproportionately occur in transportation underserved communities, improvements in transportation underserved communities are prioritized. 

In the last five years, 12 people were killed and 102 people were seriously injured in traffic crashes on roads in the city. Per month, 1.6 crashes result in severe injuries or fatalities. 

People walking and biking were involved in only 3% of all crashes but account for 22% of the serious-injury crashes between 2018 and 2022. While there were no fatal bicycle crashes in that time period, pedestrians were involved in 30% of fatal crashes. 

Crash concentrations are most apparent on West Colonial Road and Silver Star Road, as well as the intersections of Clarke and Silver Star roads and Maguire and West Colonial roads.

Several safety projects were proposed based on the plan’s findings. The highest ranking projects are: $1,745,000 for Silver Star and Clarke roads, $80,000 for S.R. 50 and Maguire Road, $15,000 for S.R. 50 and Blackwood Avenue, and $15,000 for S.R. 50 and Clarke Road. 

TOWN OF WINDERMERE

Windermere presented its Vision Zero plan Tuesday, Aug. 13, at the Town Council meeting.

The plan was created using crash analysis, public input and a town working group, which consisted of Town Manager Robert Smith, public works, the police department and a traffic engineering consultant.

From 2018 to 2022, there were three severe-injury crashes and zero fatalities. Overall, 29 non-incapacitating injury crashes and 45 possible injury crashes occurred, and pedestrians and bicycles were involved in 2% of all crashes.

One of the severe crashes took place on East Sixth Avenue, and the other two took place on Main Street.

Fifteen safety projects were recommended as a result of the plan, with six of them pertaining to Main Street and three being for East Sixth Avenue.

These include widening the existing sidewalk; reviewing existing lighting and adding pedestrian crossing on East Sixth Avenue; widening the existing sidewalk on Main Street; and adding sidewalks, upgraded signage, curb ramps, crosswalks and speed feedback signs.

“Windermere is committed to achieving zero traffic fatalities and severe injuries on our roads,” Smith said. “This Vision Zero Safety Action Plan serves as the town’s comprehensive road map to realizing our goal of zero traffic fatalities and severe injuries.”

CITY OF WINTER GARDEN

Winter Garden presented its Vision Zero plan Thursday, June 26, at the City Commission meeting.

The plan was developed using crash analysis, public outreach and a city working group with City Manager Jon C. Williams, the community development department, the fire department, the police department and public services.

The results showcased 17 severe injuries and seven fatalities from 2018 to 2022. Of these, pedestrians and bicycle road users were involved in 3% of all crashes, 41% of serious injury crashes and 57% of fatal crashes. Twenty-four percent of serious injury crashes and 29% of fatal crashes involved distracted driving. 

Seven safety improvements projects were identified, with the most expensive being $40,000,000 for Dillard Street from S.R. 50 to Plant Street. The second most expensive project was $9,110,000 for Story Road from S.R. 438 to S.R. 429.

“We are always seeking opportunities to enhance the safety and comfort of our roadways and trail networks, and we’re eager to explore any creative ideas that will ultimately lead to less dangerous outcomes for our community,” Kelly Carson, planning director for the city, said.