Posted by Founder, Bicycling Monterey
Vision Zero for Monterey County
Para obtener información relacionada en español, visite:
https://bikemonterey.org/plan-regional-de-vision-cero-del-condado-de-monterey.html
What is Vision Zero?
“Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero has proved successful across Europe—and now it’s gaining momentum in major American cities.”
https://visionzeronetwork.org/about/what-is-vision-zero/
What about Vision Zero in Monterey County?
The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) is hosting a series of workshops seeking community input on developing a Monterey County Regional Vision Zero Action Plan, to help make local streets and roadways safer—including city streets, county roads, and state highways.
In Monterey County, the Cities of Monterey, Salinas, and Seaside have already adopted or are currently developing Vision Zero or other traffic safety plans. The Monterey County Regional Vision Zero Action Plan aims to address other cities and unincorporated areas, including the following:
- City of Carmel-by-the-Sea
- City of Del Rey Oaks
- City of Gonzales
- City of Greenfield
- City of King City
- City of Marina
- City of Pacific Grove
- City of Sand City
- City of Soledad
- County of Monterey, including rural areas and unincorporated communities, e.g., Pajaro in North County, San Ardo in South County, and others.
The first community workshops
The public is invited to attend a workshop to learn more about the plan and share where they would like to see safety improvements in communities where they live, work, or visit. Beginning with the Salinas Valley cities of Greenfield, Soledad, and Gonzales (as Bicycling Monterey announced on Mastodon on May 8 https://sfba.social/@bikemonterey/114474252169999421), workshops are being held in May 2025 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the following locations:
- Greenfield: Monday, May 12 at City Council Chambers
- Soledad: Tuesday, May 13 at Soledad Community Center
- Gonzales: Wednesday, May 14 at the Community Room at the Gonzales Police Station
- Marina: Wednesday, May 21 at Vince DiMaggio Park Community Building
- Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pacific Grove: Thursday, May 22 at Carmel City Council Chambers
- King City: Wednesday, May 28 at City Council Chambers
- Del Rey Oaks and Sand City: Thursday, May 29 at Del Rey Oaks City Council Chambers
Posters in Spanish and English, for all workshop locations, are available from TAMC.
You can also spread the word by sharing a link to https://www.tamcmonterey.org/monterey-county-vision-zero and/or a link to this post https://bikemonterey.org/vision-zero-for-monterey-county.html.
Why attend a community workshop?
According to Todd Muck, TAMC’s executive director, “Over the past five years, 230 lives have been lost on Monterey County roadways. We need the community’s help to develop a Monterey County Regional Vision Plan aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while promoting safe, healthy, and equitable mobility for everyone.”
Additional details from TAMC
As announced on April 30, 2025 by TAMC Community Outreach Coordinator Theresa Wright, “The Monterey County Regional Vision Zero Action Plan will be a comprehensive countywide safety action plan developed by TAMC in collaboration with partner agencies and other stakeholders to promote coordinated solutions to reduce fatalities and injuries due to traffic collisions.
“The Plan will develop individual action plans for the ten jurisdictions that do not currently have an adopted plan. Caltrans District 5 and California Highway Patrol are participating in the plan, and both local roadways and state highways will be included.
“In addition to action plans for each jurisdiction, the Plan will include recommendations for regional projects and programs that could be implemented by TAMC or partner agencies. The Plan will include recommendations for engineering projects as well as education and encouragement campaigns and policy and process changes, taking a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to improving traffic safety. The Monterey County Regional Vision Zero Plan is expected to be completed at the end of 2026.”
Wright also stated: “Adoption of a Vision Zero Action Plan will make jurisdictions eligible for further funding to construct the improvements envisioned in the plan. The Plan will also help TAMC and local jurisdictions focus limited resources on areas with the greatest safety need.
“The Monterey County Regional Vision Zero Plan is funded with a $640,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program and a local matching grant of $160,000 funded through the Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (SAFE) Reserve funds provided by TAMC.”
For more information
Get details about the Monterey County Regional Vision Zero Action Plan at: https://www.tamcmonterey.org/monterey-county-regional-vision-zero-plan.
Questions? Please contact:
Amelia Conlen, Senior Transportation Planner
Transportation Agency for Monterey County
831-775-4404
amelia@tamcmonterey.org
“Over the past five years, 230 lives…”
Learn about just a few of the many victims of traffic violence in Monterey County:
https://bikemonterey.org/category/laws-safety/memorials
This post was published on 15 May 2025.
