In 2023, Boise experienced one of its deadliest years for traffic crashes: 13 fatalities and 80 serious injury crashes.
In response, a group of leaders decided it was time to make a concerted, collaborative effort to make the roads in Treasure Valley safer. They formed Boise’s Vision Zero Task Force, and their mission is zero traffic deaths in the city.
We sat down with Bre Brush, the Boise Mayor’s Transportation Advisor, to discuss what’s been done since the task force’s formation in late 2023. Here, we’re covering:
- What and who is the Vision Zero Task Force?
- What do they do, and what are their goals?
- How have they made roads safer since beginning their work?
What is the Vision Zero Task Force?
The Vision Zero Task Force, also called the Traffic Fatality Review Task Force, brings together representatives from The City of Boise, the Ada County Highway District, and the Boise Police Department, as well as a citizen representative. Their goal is to review fatal and serious crashes, identify what went wrong, and determine what can be done to prevent similar crashes in the future.
Brush says a significant strength of the task force is that key voices of transportation are at the table: key elements of enforcement, education, and engineering.
“We have the people who are engineering and designing the roads, the police who are enforcing the roads, and then myself and a member of our communications team from the education side,” she said. “It really does bring all the different parts together to take a comprehensive look at fatal crashes.”
The group meets quarterly to review the most recent fatal crash reports. Investigations can take weeks to months, depending on the circumstances of the crash. The group reviews whatever information is available during their meeting, as well as historical instances of fatal and serious crashes at crash locations. Often, the group visits the crash site in person.
With the data in hand, they tackle questions like:
- What happened here?
- Is there anything immediate we can do in the short term?
- What long-term changes need to be made?
What’s been done over the past year?
Since its formation in October 2023, the task force has seen notable progress in assessing high-crash areas of the Treasure Valley and implementing solutions. Brush shared a few:
Cloverdale Road
One of the early case studies that showed the task force’s impact was at Cloverdale Road. Brush and the team noticed an unusual number of pedestrian crashes near the crossing at Cloverdale Road and Irving Street, many of which occurred at night.
“We went out there. We walked it. We noticed pretty big gaps in the streetlight infrastructure,” Brush said.
In this case, there was a clear course of action. They spoke with their public works team and explained the problem. Public works allotted a budget towards adding three more street lights along Cloverdale Road, eliminating some of the dark spots.
Brush explained that this type of infrastructure improvement is proven to reduce the likelihood of a crash. “It gives people a chance to be more visible at night,” she said.
Sidewalk Safety
The task force also evaluated a tragic crash wherein a child was killed while riding their bike. The crash happened when the child veered off the sidewalk into the road.
The investigation found that most of the sidewalk is detached from the roadway, which is much safer for pedestrians and cyclists. However, this crash happened on a slight stretch of sidewalk attached to the roadway. After reviewing this tragic case, the Vision Zero Task Force and city council members developed a plan to detach this section of the sidewalk.
“We worked with a developer to demolish the part where the crash happened and detach the sidewalk,” Brush said. “It’s a good example of everybody coming together quickly to address the issue.”
Expanding Transportation Options
One of the task force’s continuing challenges is the rapid population increase in the Treasure Valley—a problem far from a secret.
“There’s a higher volume of people using our facilities, whether they’re driving, walking, or biking,” Brush said. “This is the biggest challenge, particularly in areas that are more rural or less developed with roadways not built to manage that many people on bikes or in their cars.”
In response, the task force encourages walking, biking, and using public transportation to alleviate traffic.
"We have limited space to continue widening roads, so we are really encouraging people to take other modes of transportation."
At the same time, Brush and the team are working on sidewalk and bike infrastructure to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe by distancing them from major roadways.
“We have limited space to continue widening roads,” she said. “So we are really encouraging people to take other modes of transportation.”
While the solution to easing congestion and safe driving isn’t as easy as installing a street light, the task force leans on education and communication—a method Brush says has “the biggest bang for your buck.” Through school presentations, digital campaigns, billboards, and signs, the task force urges Idahoans to drive safely—whether by buckling up, slowing down, planning a sober ride, or staying focused on the road.
What’s next for the Vision Zero Task Force?
The Vision Zero Task Force plans to continue their work for—well, as long as they’re needed. Much of their work has only just begun. Some changes, like installing street lights, can be completed in around four months; other projects, like installing a multi-lane roundabout to replace a high-risk intersection, can take up to five years.
No matter what it takes, Brush and the team are committed to moving the needle toward zero traffic deaths through data-driven solutions.
“This will continue as long as we have someone to staff it,” Brush said. “The conversations I’ve had with everybody involved is that we really enjoy this work. I think it’ll continue on—it’s one of the things I’m most proud of.”
For their efforts, the Vision Zero Task Force was awarded the Community Outreach Award at the Idaho Transportation Department’s 2024 Highway Safety Summit.
Learn more about the Vision Zero Task Force here.
