Vision Zero Action Committee Developing Comprehensive Roadway Safety Plan.
The Vision Zero Action Committee for the City of Gardner had its first meeting on March 31, 2026.
The goal is to develop a comprehensive roadway safety plan. City officials and consultants from Kimley Horn discuss a federal grant-funded initiative to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries through a proactive, data-driven approach. Here are some of the stats from the period January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025 highlighted during the meeting: There were a total of 44 collisions with a pedestrian of which 4 resulted in a fatality, and 7 resulted in serious injury. There were 23 collisions with a cyclist of with 1 resulted in a fatality. Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
The discussion highlights existing crash data, identifying high-injury networks and specific danger zones for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the city. Committee members emphasize the importance of public engagement, promoting an interactive mapping tool where residents can report safety concerns and suggest improvements. The project timeline spans 10 to 12 months, incorporating multiple public forums and interdepartmental collaboration to foster safer road user behavior and infrastructure. This outlines a strategic transition from reactive traffic management to a preventative safety system focused on protecting all community members with a completion projection of the final report in the October to December 2026 period. Once the final report is adopted, funding will be sought and the plan will then be implemented in an effort to save lives.