The city of Milwaukee wants to eliminate all traffic deaths by 2037 and will host a series of open-house meetings to fuel that goal, known as “Vision Zero”.
Mayor Cavalier Johnson signed a resolution in June of 2022, setting the goal to reach zero traffic-related deaths or serious injuries by the year 2037.
Jessica Wineberg was hired to lead that effort in the summer of 2023. Her first task is developing a Vision Zero Action Plan. Wineberg says perhaps the highest hurdle will be changing behaviors.
“Hopefully we can have some sort of cultural change where following the speed limit and yielding to pedestrians becomes the norm again,” she said, reflecting on the task ahead. “And to do that we’ll have to make a lot of policy changes and put a lot of time and effort in. But I just hope everyone knows — by you, yourself driving the speed limit and not being distracted and yielding to pedestrians — you are part of changing what’s normal and what’s acceptable.”
Wineberg’s strategy involves a lot of community outreach and that’s taking shape in 2024 with a series of meetings — the first is a Vision Zero Action Plan Open House set for January 25th from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Office of African American Affairs (4830 W Fond du Lac Avenue).