RESOLUTION No. 36159

Establish the Portland Traffic Safety Coordination Council, direct City staff to prepare a community and school traffic safety strategy, and direct City staff to develop a sustainable, results-driven financial plan to improve traffic safety (Resolution)

WHEREAS, traffic issues pose a major public safety, health, and livability threat in our community and schools.

WHEREAS, Portland residents consistently identify concerns with traffic safety as one of their biggest neighborhood problems.

In the annual Portland Citizen Survey, residents identified speeding, pedestrian safety, and bike safety as three of their top four neighborhood concerns.

WHEREAS, traffic fatality and injury statistics support Portlanders’ concern about traffic safety.

In the last 10 years, 10% more Portlanders were killed in auto-related crashes than were murdered. 40% more Portlanders were injured in auto-related crashes than were injured from assaults. From 1985-2000, one out of every three traffic fatalities was a pedestrian or a bicyclist.

WHEREAS, most auto crashes are not unavoidable “accidents” – they don’t have to happen.

Driver error is involved in 93% of traffic crashes. Speeding is involved in 40% of traffic fatalities, and drinking is involved in 33% of traffic fatalities.

WHEREAS, dangerous driving behavior increases the severity of traffic crashes.

Speed dramatically increases the fatality rate of pedestrians. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle travelling 20 mph has a 95% chance of survival. At 30 mph, the survival rate is 60%, and at 40 mph, the survival rate is only 10%.

WHEREAS, dangerous driving behaviors are becoming more prevalent.

Speeding recently outpaced DUII as the most common cause of traffic fatalities. Red light running is the fastest growing type of auto crash, with a 19% increase from 1992-2000. After years of decline, drunk driving fatalities are again on the rise.

WHEREAS, traffic safety concerns increase auto trips and reduce general cardiovascular health.

Since 1970, the number of kids walking and biking to school has dropped to 10% while the percentage of kids considered obese has increased to 25%. After distance, traffic safety is identified as the most common reason that kids do not walk or bike to school. Traffic safety concerns also limit adults from walking, biking, and achieving the recommended 30 minutes of daily physical activity.

WHEREAS, new programs are dramatically improving traffic safety.

In Gloucester, England (a city similar to Portland), a program reduced traffic fatalities and serious traffic injuries by 38%. If Portland could achieve the same level of success over 10 years, we’d have 180 fewer traffic fatalities and 25,000 fewer serious traffic injuries. The national Safe Routes to School pilot project in Marin County, California, increased the number of kids walking and biking to school by 81% in the first year. If Portland could achieve the same level of success, we’d see 5,000 more kids walking and biking to school and a 29% reduction in school auto traffic.

WHEREAS, declining resources have dramatically reduced City of Portland funding for traffic safety services over the last few years.

In the 1990s, Portland’s Office of Transportation allocated about 1 million dollars per year to neighborhood traffic safety services. For 2000 to 2003, the funding was less than $200,000 per year. The Police Bureau’s Traffic Division has gone from one of the Bureau’s largest divisions to one of the smallest.

WHEREAS, Portland’s limited resources require that a sustainable and effective traffic safety effort include the cooperation of Portland’s traffic safety community.

Community partners include neighborhoods, public health and injury prevention specialists, pedestrian and bicycle groups, insurance agencies, Portland schools, school bus service providers, Portland Office of Transportation, Portland Police Bureau, TriMet, and the Circuit Court.

WHEREAS, a sustainable and effective traffic safety effort requires a balanced approach of enforcement, engineering, and education services.

With the assistance of an ODOT Safe Communities Grant, the City of Portland and the Safe Communities Coalition have completed a safety action audit to review existing data, evaluate traffic safety tools and services, and identify opportunities to improve Portland’s traffic enforcement, engineering, and education services.

WHEREAS, Portland is uniquely positioned to develop a world-class traffic safety program.

Portland is recognized as a leader in building a multi-modal transportation system. Portland can be a leader in operating a safe, multi-modal transportation system.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City of Portland will form a Traffic Safety Coordination Council comprised of the membership described in Attachment A, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT City of Portland staff will work with the community and the Portland Traffic Safety Coordination Council to draft a Community and School Traffic Safety Strategy for City Council approval, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT City staff will work with the community and the Portland Traffic Safety Coordination Council to develop, for City Council approval, a sustainable, results-driven traffic safety financial strategy.

Adopted by the Council July 30, 2003  GARY BLACKMER

 Auditor of the City of Portland

By /S/ Susan Parsons

Commissioner Jim Francesconi        Deputy

Mark Lear

July 09, ,2003

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 860-2003

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 36159