2025R-3 A RESOLUTION OF THE VERMILION CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERMILION, OHIO ADOPTING VISION ZERO AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LORAIN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ACTION PLAN AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, the life and health of all persons living and traveling within the City of Vermilion, Ohio are our utmost priority, and no one should die or be seriously injured while traveling on our city streets;
WHEREAS, Vision Zero is the concept that traffic deaths and serious injuries on our roadways are unacceptable;
WHEREAS, Vision Zero is a holistic strategy aimed at eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries suffered by all road users while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all;
WHEREAS, streets and transportation systems have traditionally been designed primarily to move cars efficiently, and Vision Zero supports a paradigm shift by designing streets and transportation systems to move all people safely, including people of all ages and abilities, pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit users, scooter riders, and motorcyclists, as well as drivers and passengers of motor vehicles;
WHEREAS, Vision Zero recognizes that people will sometimes make mistakes, so the road system and related policies should be designed to ensure that those inevitable mistakes do not result in severe injuries or fatalities; therefore, transportation planners and engineers and policymakers are expected to improve the roadway environment, policies, and other related systems to lessen the severity of crashes;
WHEREAS, 108 people in Lorain County lost their lives to traffic deaths between 2018-2022, and traffic crashes are among the leading cause of deaths in the United States;
WHEREAS, Lorain County’s transportation infrastructure serves an increasing number of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists;
WHEREAS, according to the Lorain County Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, pedestrians and bicyclists are involved in 1.4 percent of all Lorain County crashes, but 10.9 percent of fatal or serious injury crashes in Lorain County;
WHEREAS, speed is recognized as a major determining factor of survival in a crash;
WHEREAS, Lorain County is working toward reducing vehicle speeds because the likelihood of a pedestrian surviving a crash is 10 percent if hit by a vehicle moving 40 mph;
WHEREAS, children, older adults, people of color, people with disabilities, people who are unhoused, and people with low income face a significantly disproportionate risk of traffic injuries and fatalities;
WHEREAS, making streets safer for all people using all modes of transportation will encourage people to travel on foot, by bicycle, and by public transit, which supports a healthier, more active lifestyle and reduces environmental pollution;
WHEREAS, successful Vision Zero programs are a result of both a complete government approach (i.e., interdepartmental, coordinated initiatives) and community support of Vision Zero objectives;
WHEREAS, Vision Zero resolutions have been adopted by many jurisdictions across the United States; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Vermilion, State of Ohio, as follows:
- The City of Vermilion, Ohio adopts the goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries, stating that no loss of life or serious injury is acceptable on our streets.
- The City of Vermilion, Ohio adopts the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2040 and endorses Vision Zero as a comprehensive and holistic approach to achieving this goal.
- The City of Vermilion, Ohio shall certify the adoption of this Resolution, effective immediately, by the Vermilion City Council.
SECTION 1: That this Resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure, the emergency being the necessity of meeting the March 2025 deadline of the Lorain County Public Health which puts them in a good place for future competitive dollars; thus for the public peace, health, and safety of the City; wherefore, this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage and approval of the Mayor, providing it meets the statutory requirements for passage; otherwise, it shall take effect and be enforced from and after the earliest period allowed by law.