Road Safety Action Plan FAQ

Q: What is the Road Safety Action Plan?
A: A comprehensive plan that improves safety on Phoenix roadways for all users. The Plan will include measures to evaluate, engineer, enforce and educate. That is known as the 4E approach to traffic safety.

Q: Why is the City of Phoenix developing this plan?
A: Understanding the importance of safety as a core function of the Street Transportation Department, and due to recent data trending in a negative direction, Phoenix is investing in this comprehensive Plan that will further the city's current efforts and provide a framework and key strategies for safety enhancem ents citywide.

Q: How is the plan development being funded?
A: Development of the Plan is being funded by the voter-approved Phoenix Transportation 2050 sales tax, also known as T2050.

Q: How is this plan going to help my neighborhood?
A: The Plan will determine a High Injury Network (HIN) that identifies problem locations and helps determine solutions and prioritization. This approach will help city staff focus resources on what actions to implement and where those actions are needed, and also help determine how funds can be invested in the areas most impacted by collisions that result in serious injury or death.

Q: How can I be more involved and give feedback?
A: Community engagement is integral to the formation of an actionable plan. The input of those who travel Phoenix's roadways, whether driving, walking or biking, will be key to make city streets safer for everyone. Information about community input opportunities is available on Phoenix.gov/RoadSafety.

Q: How will public feedback be incorporated into the Plan?
A: Community input and feedback will be analyzed to determine issues and areas of concern that should be integrated into the Plan.

Q: Where can I find more information about this plan and its progress?
A: Information is available on Phoenix.gov/RoadSafety.

Q: Is the City offering information about the Plan in languages other than English?
A: Yes, public engagement materials have been provided in English and in Spanish. For Spanish and additional language options, please click the “Translate" option at the top of this webpage.

Q: How will the city prioritize safety projects and initiatives identified in the Plan?
A: The Plan will have strategies based on the 4E approach (Evaluation, Enforcement, Engineering and Education) and respond to the focus areas identified in the High Injury Network (HIN).

Q: Will this plan consider pedestrian, bicyclist and accessibility improvements?
A: Yes, the Plan will evaluate all roadway uses and will contain a roadmap to address the safety issues related to those uses.

Q: Who will be involved in implementing this Plan?
A: Everyone has a responsibility to ensure safety. For the Plan to be successful, the city and the community must forge a strong partnership. While the Street Transportation Department is leading this effort, other city departments are key to this partnership and include the Police and Fire departments, as well as school districts and many other external agencies and organizations.

Q: What best practices have been implemented and demonstrate a reduction in exposure to pedestrians and cyclists?
A: HAWK pedestrian signals have been installed, barrier protected bike lanes have been installed and additional roadway lighting fixtures have been installed.

Q: How will the Plan address concerns like speeding, aggressive driving or racing on streets?
A: Unsafe driving behavior and enforcement are anticipated to be key focus areas of the Plan. If you have an immediate safety concern, please continue to report it to the City of Phoenix.

Q: Can you share some background as to red light cameras in Phoenix?
A: Red light cameras were previously implemented by the Phoenix Police Department. The program ended with the expiration of the contract, and the contract was not renewed.

Q: How will the Plan address speed limits, particularly where more vulnerable road users are present?
A: Speed limits are set in accordance with state statutes and city ordinances. The basis for setting speed limits via engineering studies is generally based on setting the speed below the 85th percentile of speed of free-flowing vehicles and may take into account the presence of vulnerable users and other factors. Crash data will be evaluated with respect to “speeds too fast for conditions" and “exceeding the posted speed." Speed related strategies are anticipated to be part of the Plan.

Q: Would a reduction in speed of traffic result in less fatalities?
A: Speed is an integral factor in many fatal crashes. The higher the speed, the higher the kinetic energy that may be transferred. The use of safety equipment is paramount in mitigating the transfer of kinetic energy. Separating modes of transportation via space and time is also an effective way to mitigate the transfer of energy to lower mass and lower speed modes of transportation.

Q: Will the Plan address texting and driving deterrents?
A: It is anticipated that distracted driving, distracted walking and/or distracted riding may be included in the plan.

Q: Will this plan make observations or make recommendations on helmet use?
A: It is anticipated that encouraging the use of safety equipment would be a viable strategy that may be included in the Plan.

Q: Will this Plan specifically reduce car use to reduce number of car crashes?
A: It is anticipated that mode shift may be a safety strategy included in the Plan.

Q: Are there strategies to address underlying factors or root causes of high fatalities in areas with high minority populations?
A: The evaluation component of the Plan will identify locations with a higher-than-expected frequency in serious injury and fatal crashes. Strategies will be developed based on the 4E approach (Evaluation, Enforcement, Engineering and Education).

Q: Do the wide streets in Phoenix contribute to distracted driving?
A: There are several factors that contribute to distracted driving. However, road width is generally unrelated to driver distractions.

Q: Will the Plan include protected bike lanes?
A: It is anticipated that protected bike lanes may be a strategy included in the Plan. Application will most likely be location specific. Coordination with the city's Active Transportation Plan is anticipated.

Q: Are bicycle lanes heavily utilized?
A: Similar to motor vehicle lanes and sidewalks, bicycle lane utilization varies throughout the city's transportation network. The Street Transportation Department conducts annual bicycle and pedestrian counts, and we do additional counts throughout the year. In 2020, there was a large increase in people biking. An increasing interest in biking is expected as the city expands and connects the network.

Q: Could underutilized bicycle lanes be reallocated to add driving lanes in congested areas?
A: Under this Plan, it is not anticipated that underutilized bicycle lanes will be reallocated to add driving lanes in congested areas. Bicycle lanes improve safety by creating separate space for people biking and by visually narrowing the lanes, which can encourage people to drive the speed limit.

Q: Why does the city not have a strategy to build a connected bike network?
A: The Street Transportation Department drafted a Bike Master Plan in 2014. The city is in the process of creating an Active Transportation Plan that will update the Bike Master Plan. City staff is always looking for opportunities to connect existing and planned bikeways.

Q: What is the process to request speed humps/cushions and traffic signals on my street and how does it relate to the Plan?
A: While the City of Phoenix may change some programs or practices as the Plan is developed, the Street Transportation Department has processes for these requests. Details about those processes are available on the Traffic Calming webpage.

Q: What is the timeline of the study being done about the reverse lanes on 7th Avenue and 7th Street?
A: In December 2021, a planning and traffic operations study of the reverse traffic lanes on 7th Street and 7th Avenue was finalized. View the study and additional details. Street Transportation Department staff has reviewed the results of the study and is considering how the recommendations can be integrated into the city's ongoing capital improvement plan. A project timeline has not been determined and specific funding has not been identified.

Q: Will the Plan prioritize safety improvements for the neighborhoods most overburdened by traffic and violence, especially in low income and minority areas?
A: The evaluation component of the Plan will identify locations with a higher-than-expected frequency in serious injury and fatal crashes. Strategies will be developed based on the 4E approach (Evaluation, Enforcement, Engineering and Education).

Q: Are curb extensions and a reduction of lane widths part of the Plan?
A: It is anticipated that curb extensions and lane width reductions would be a strategy included in the Plan.

Q: Will traffic signal light timing be evaluated?
A: It is anticipated that signal light timing and phasing would be a strategy included in the Plan.

Q: How will the Plan address individuals with disabilities?
A: Development and implementation of the Plan is expected to follow The Americans with Disabilities Act.

Q: What is the percentage of crashes from red light running and distracted drivers?
A: Data such as this will be gathered during the Plan development process.

Q: What qualitative data is being integrated into the analysis for this Plan?
A: The most important qualitative information in this Plan is the input received from the public and stakeholders. The public and stakeholder input will be addressed during the process as shown in the public meeting presentation.

Q: Does the Plan include a process to track implementation over time?
A: Yes.

Q: Please define crashes and does the definition include injured cyclists and pedestrians?
A: Crash data includes accidents involving vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Specifically, the crash data is based on motor vehicle crash reports, which involve at least one motor vehicle and may include other modes of transportation. Additional sources of transportation safety data may be included later.

Q: How is data captured for the injured who die weeks or months after an injury?
A: The crash data follows the Federal Fatal Accident Reporting System. Motor vehicle crashes where a death occurs within 30 days is recorded as a fatal motor vehicle crash. Deaths after 30 days are not considered as a fatal motor vehicle related crash.

Q: What is the source for the presentation data?
A: The statistics are from the National Highway Safety Administration from 2017 to 2019 for total average fatalities and crashes reported to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

Q: How will the Plan integrate public transit?
A: Transit is a key component of roadway safety. Coordination with Valley Metro is anticipated to continue throughout the development and implementation of the Plan.

Q: Will this plan also examine or recommend increased density or an opportunity for public transit?
A: It is not anticipated that increased density or increased public transit would be a focus of the Plan.

Q: How will this Plan address people who use different modes of transportation other than driving?
A: So far, the crash data has identified various modes of transportation that are overrepresented in the fatal and serious injury crashes. Those modes will be addressed.

Q: How has the Street Transportation Department partnered with the Phoenix Police Department as the Plan is developed?
A: The Phoenix Police Department has been an integral part in the development of the Plan, and it will continue to be instrumental in the implementation of the strategies outlined in it. Multiple workshops have been held with the Police Department to share information and develop the Plan framework.

Q: Is the Street Transportation Department also partnering with city planning and zoning to better control traffic caused by zoning changes?
A: Yes, numerous city departments are involved with this effort. Site developments have an important relationship with street interface and safety for all users.

Q: What is Vision Zero and how does it relate to the Road Safety Action Plan? And, does city staff have the capacity to implement a Vision Zero approach in addition to this program?
A: Vision Zero is built around a core philosophy that traffic-related deaths and serious injuries are preventable. The Vision Zero Network recognizes cities that take action towards adopting this approach to road safety as "Vision Zero Communities." On January 25, 2022, Phoenix City Council approved to incorporate the goals of Vision Zero into the comprehensive the Plan.

Q: How does this project interface with areas that are both in the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County?
A: The City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department regularly coordinates with adjacent municipalities This Plan will improve crash data associated with multi-jurisdictional locations.

Q: Are construction materials being considered that will not radiate as much heat?
A: It is not anticipated that thermal coefficients of materials would be a focus of the Plan. However, specific projects implement by this Plan may incorporate materials with a lower heat transfer rate.

Q: How does the city secure funding for small safety interventions that can't apply for big federal grants?
A: Federal grant opportunities will be tracked and applied for as appropriate. Lower cost projects may be incorporated into other projects with limited budgetary impacts. Some projects may be submitted during the programming process, and other small projects may fit within existing department/program budgets.

Q: How will the safety of all vulnerable roadway users be prioritized during the budget process to build the project?
A: The Plan will include a process review on how to include and prioritize safety in project selection.

Q: What changes are being made today to reduce fatalities?
A: To name a few, HAWK pedestrian signals have been installed, barrier protected bike lanes have been installed, traffic signals have been modernized and additional roadway lighting fixtures have been installed.

Q: Will projects that address specific locations and issues be built because of this Plan?
A: It is anticipated that projects identified through this Plan will be funded and built in accordance with the funding source prioritization and requirement processes.

Q: Is there any Plan to eliminate parking requirements citywide?
A: The city is not planning to eliminate parking requirements citywide via this Plan.

Q: Will city staff evaluate data from other agencies during the Plan development process?
A: Yes, although a complete list of other data sources has not yet been developed.

Q: Are there plans to deal with congested surface streets?
A: Traffic congestion is not an intended focus area of this Plan. However, traffic signal modernization projects are anticipated to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion.

Q: Cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam achieve very low pedestrian fatalities, why not copy their plans?
A: Although other communities may have effective pedestrian safety plans and may have strategies that may be effective in our community, copying their plans may not be appropriate based on varying styles of governments, community priorities and geographical constraints.​