GDT > Campaigns > Success Stories > RTD Vision Zero
Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all transit-related fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
Oct 22nd, 2024 – Success… the RTD Board Approves Vision Zero!
On October 22nd, 2024, the RTD Board voted 14 to 1 in favor of passing a resolution in support of an RTD-specific Vision Zero
initiative and committed to taking actionable steps towards the elimination of traffic fatalities and serious injuries within the agency’s transit operations and infrastructure.
In addition, the RTD GM and CEO will present a Vision Zero Action Plan draft to the Board for discussion and feedback by 30th June 2025.
We believe that RTD, Colorado’s largest regional transportation agency, has a responsibility to incorporate comprehensive Vision Zero strategies, principles, and policies in every area of planning and implementation.
Inspired by the original Vision Zero plan for traffic deaths, RTD Vision Zero expands this to include a focus on preventing bus and rail crashes, grade crossing collisions, platform safety and suicide prevention.
The RTD Vision Zero Coalition
Through a series of workshops and small-group meetings from fall 2023 to spring 2024, the Coalition created a Vision Zero framework for the consideration of adoption by the RTD Board of Directors and the General Manager and CEO. The coalition released its preliminary report in June 2024. The RTD Board approved it on October 2024.
A New Vision For Transit Safety…
Traditional Approach
- Deaths on transit vehicles and infrastructure are inevitable.
- Perfect human behavior.
- Prevent collisions.
- Individual responsibility.
- Closed safety culture.
- Saving lives is expensive.
RTD Vision Zero
- Deaths on transit vehicles and infrastructure are preventable.
- Integrate human failing in approach.
- Prevent fatal and severe crashes.
- Systems approach.
- Open and transparent safety culture.
- Saving lives is not expensive.
RTD Vision Zero is a significant departure from the status quo in two major ways:
- RTD Vision Zero recognizes that people will sometimes make mistakes, so the transit system and related policies should be designed to ensure those inevitable mistakes do not result in severe injuries or fatalities. This means that system designers and policymakers are expected to improve the transit environment, policies, and other related systems to lessen the severity of crashes.
- RTD Vision Zero is a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together diverse and necessary stakeholders to address this complex problem. In the past, meaningful, cross-disciplinary collaboration among local transit planners and engineers, policymakers, and public health professionals has not been the norm. RTD Vision Zero acknowledges that many factors contribute to safe mobility — including transit system design, behaviors, technology, and policies — and sets clear goals to achieve the shared goal of zero fatalities and severe injuries.
Rail Safety
Our View…
Greater Denver Transit is in support of a Vision Zero approach to transit.
– We urge CDOT and other Colorado transit agencies to follow the Regional Transportation District’s lead by adopting “Vision Zero” policies.
Vision Zero was brought to you by…
RTD Director JoyAnn Ruscha
RTD Directors Ian Harwick and Troy Whitman
RTD Board Chair Erik Davidson
RTD GM & CEO Debra Johnson
Thanks for all your hard work and support!