A New Plan Emerges To Improve Traffic Safety For All Road Users
Webb County-City of Laredo Regional Mobility Authority Launches Vision Zero Safety Action Plan.
February 29, 2024 | Laredo, Texas — The Webb County-City of Laredo Regional Mobility Authority (WC-CL RMA) Board of Directors led by Chair Jed Brown, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, City of Laredo Council Member Vanessa Perez, and the Texas Department of Transportation Laredo District Engineer Epigmenio “Epi” Gonzalez, P.E., publicly launched the Vision Zero Webb Laredo Safety Action plan and unveiled the goal of eliminating all traffic deaths and serious injuries by the year 2040.
This is possible through a grant program from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All allocation awarded to the WC-CL RMA in 2023. The $1.6M award was the fourth largest amount in Texas for developing an Action Plan. Laredo and Webb County benefit from the federal reinvestment monies through the WC-CL RMA’s partnership with the City of Laredo for the $400,000 local funds dedicated towards the match for the grant.
- The grant-funded safety action plan development began in the Fall of 2023 and consists of Stakeholder committees: the Vision Zero Working Group and the Safe Transportation Advisory Council. They include staff from the City of Laredo departments, the Laredo Webb County Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, other public agencies, road users, advocacy groups, and various stakeholders to provide feedback that will guide the plan, ensuring it can be implemented.
- Data Will Be Collected from City departments, federal resources, TxDOT, County, State agencies, school districts, and other sources through the end of 2023.
- Public Commitment to Zero Fatalities by 2040—The official public kickoff is today. WC-CL RMA adopted a resolution on February 14, 2024; others will follow.
- Participate in National Bike Month activities to promote the plan’s creation in May 2024.
- Identify local budgeting and federal implementation grant funds in the Summer
2024. - Unveil safety measure implementation plan in October 2024.
- The final plan submittal is expected in December 2024.
- The federal implementation grant application is anticipated for the Summer of 2025.
The WC-CL RMA also invited the greater community to become involved by visiting the website, visionzerowebblaredo.com, engaging on social media, and taking the Safety Pledge.