“Nov. 7, 2000, was the last day that we had a deathless day,” TxDOT Austin District Engineer Tucker Ferguson said. “We've had at least one death every single day since that date.”
A decade into Austin’s Vision Zero initiative—a program intended to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries—city data shows targeted mobility improvements are saving lives.
The big picture
"Traffic crashes aren't accidents. They are preventable. They are a public health crisis, and like any health crisis, they require a direct, holistic response,” Austin City Council member Vanessa Fuentes said.
Since the adoption of Vision Zero in 2015, Austin has invested more than $1.3 billion in safety and mobility improvements through three voter-approved mobility bonds. Those funds have supported hundreds of projects, according to the Vision Zero 10-year report, including:
- 29 major intersection improvement projects
- Over 500 pedestrian crossings
- 110 miles of All-Ages-and-Abilities bicycle facilities
- More than 320 miles of new or upgraded sidewalks
- Over 600 Safe Routes to School treatments
This figure reflects the total impact crashes have on the community—not just in dollars, but in lives disrupted. Local transportation agencies calculate those costs by looking at expenses tied to medical care, emergency response, vehicle and property damage, lost wages and productivity, and administrative and legal costs.
Something to note
Equity remains a major concern for vision zero leaders. Black Austinites are twice as likely to be killed or seriously injured in crashes compared to their share of the population. Low-income areas experience four times as many severe crashes as wealthier ones, and people experiencing homelessness account for up to 60% of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities.
The outlook
Current bond funds are expected to run out by 2026. With more than 2,800 miles of city streets, city leaders say Austin must pursue long-term funding through state, regional and federal partnerships.
Ferguson noted that TxDOT has $135 million planned for safety spending within the next four years.
State-maintained roads account for roughly two-thirds of Austin’s traffic fatalities, according to city documents, and while TxDOT has adopted its own Road to Zero plan, differences between state design standards and Austin’s safety-focused approach remain a challenge.
State laws also limit the city’s ability to use speed cameras or adjust speed limits more flexibly, and overall speeding citations have dropped about 90% since 2015.
City officials hope new Austin Police Department leadership will bring renewed focus to targeted enforcement efforts aligned with community safety and equity goals.
Offering input
Hayden Black Walker, who serves on the board of Safe Streets Austin, said changing how people think about traffic safety is key—moving away from the notion that traffic deaths are “an unavoidable consequence” of the system and toward the belief that they are actually preventable through smarter design and policy.
