Mayor Johnston Announces Targeted Effort to Reduce Traffic Fatalities

Published on June 24, 2024

Mayor Mike Johnston Announces Targeted Effort to Reduce Traffic Fatalities in Denver

DENVER – Today Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, joined by Amy Ford, Executive Director of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) and partner organizations, announced a new pilot program to increase safety in Denver by addressing speeding on high-risk streets to reduce traffic fatalities.

The city will focus on corridors that make up the city’s high injury network – the streets where most serious and fatal injury crashes are occurring – with targeted actions aimed at reducing fatalities as Denver moves toward its goal of zero fatalities by 2030.

“Building a safe and vibrant Denver means improving traffic safety by reducing speeds on Denver roads,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “I’m proud to roll out our new pilot program that coordinates evidence-based actions that are shown to reduce speeds and reduce deaths.”

In an effort to increase safety by reducing speeds, the city announced several targeted actions that will take effect in the next 18 months on Federal Boulevard and Alameda Avenue, two streets with high safety risks. These actions, that make up DOTI’s new SPEED program, include:

1. Saturating corridors with speed limit signs and speed feedback signs, providing visual reminders of posted limits; Start directed marketing program to encourage drivers to slow down
2. Programming traffic signals to slow vehicles down to the posted limits (tip: if you go the speed limit, you get more green lights!)
3. Engineering signal timing to prevent excessive speeding at night by having more signals rest in red until a car arrives (note: 57% of fatal crashes last year happened at night)
4. Expanding use of signal timing that gives pedestrians a head start crossing the street before the light turns green
5. Deploying speed enforcement on both corridors including surging mobile speed vans and piloting automated speed enforcement cameras

The tactics have proven effective in other places in the city. Signal timing adjustments and pedestrian crossing improvements made on West Colfax Avenue in 2020 between Irving Street and Sheridan Boulevard resulted in a 71-percent reduction in fatal crashes.

“Given the successes we’ve seen on West Colfax, we’re targeting Alameda Avenue and Federal Boulevard next, accelerating our efforts to reduce fatal crashes with tactics proven to slow vehicle speeds and improve pedestrian safety.” said Amy Ford, Executive Director of DOTI.

Advocates for safer streets also spoke at today’s press conference in support of the strategies announced.

"We are grateful to Mayor Johnston for treating the issue of traffic violence with the urgency it deserves,” said Jill Locantore, Executive Director of the Denver Streets Partnership. “Today’s announcement from the Mayor gives us hope that real change is possible. That we can not only make our streets safer, but our neighborhoods more sustainable, vibrant, and livable."

"For years, the Denver Bike Lobby and our many coalition partners have been calling on the city to truly commit to Vision Zero,”, said June Churchill of the Denver Bike Lobby. “Now, with new leadership, our city has a fresh perspective. Today, our Mayor and city are recommitting to Vision Zero with significant action, not just words."

Today, DOTI also published a new policy, confirming the department’s commitment to safety first in the design and operation of city streets, emphasizing lower speeds, safer pedestrian and bicycle crossings and improving the experience for people taking transit at all times of day with safe, comfortable and accessible transit stops. The policy provides clear direction to staff to assist in decision-making and ensuring these safety priorities are reflected in the work DOTI delivers. More information about how DOTI is building out Denver’s vision for transportation can be found at www.denvergov.org/denvermoveseveryone.