Petition Urging Philadelphia to Fund Vision Zero at $5 Million for FY2026
Why Vision Zero Needs Increased Funding to Keep Philly Streets Safe
Philadelphia’s commitment to safer streets is at a crossroads. As the city grapples with continual traffic fatalities and injuries, advocacy groups like Philly Bike Action, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and 5th Square have launched a petition urging Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council to allocate $5 million to the Vision Zero program for the FY2026 budget.
At Piscitello Law, we strongly support this initiative and have added our name to the petition. We urge you to do the same and to share this petition within your networks. By amplifying this funding request through collective action, we can make our streets safer for everyone—whether walking, rolling, or biking. Want to add your voice? Sign the Petition Here and consider attending the Vision Zero Hearing on 2.18.25 to be held at City Hall.
Photo Credit: Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition
Photo Credit: Philadelphia Bicycle Coalition
Why Vision Zero Funding Matters
Vision Zero is Philadelphia’s initiative to eliminate traffic deaths by 2050 through investments in safer infrastructure and street redesigns. This funding is crucial to:
- Expanding and upgrading protected bike lanes
- Improving intersections and daylighting corners to enhance visibility
- Implementing additional pedestrian safety measures and traffic-calming solutions
Philadelphia has a High Injury Network—a set of roads where most fatal and severe crashes occur. Without adequate funding, crucial safety improvements on these roads will be delayed or halted entirely, putting more lives at risk.
Background on Vision Zero Funding
March 21, 2024:
Mayor Cherelle Parker spoke at the Mayor’s Reception Room at City Hall and publicly reaffirmed Philadelphia’s commitment to Vision Zero. The Mayor signed an Executive Order instructing the Vision Zero task force to eliminate traffic deaths by 2050. She also pledged to improve every mile of the city’s High Injury Network—a significant statement that inspired confidence among safe streets advocates, transportation planners, and families of traffic victims.
June 13, 2024:
Just three months later, City Council voted to pass Mayor Parker’s first budget for FY2025, which slashed the Vision Zero budget by 60%—reducing funding to just $1 million. This stark reversal came despite her earlier public commitment to improve road safety.
To put this into perspective:
- Former Mayor Jim Kenney increased the city’s Vision Zero contribution from $1 million in FY2022 to $2.5 million in FY2024.
- Now, Mayor Parker’s budget slashes this down to $1 million for FY2025, effectively erasing years of progress toward safer city streets.
- This funding cut limits the city’s ability to install protected bike lanes, improve dangerous intersections, and expand pedestrian safety infrastructure.
Why We Need $5 Million for FY2026
If we are serious about reducing traffic deaths and injuries, we must restore and expand funding for Vision Zero. The petition seeks to secure $5 million in the FY2026 budget, which will help Philadelphia:
- Fund critical safety projects on the High Injury Network
- Upgrade and expand protected bike lanes
- Improve intersections with better lighting, signage, and visibility enhancements
- Ensure pedestrian-friendly infrastructure improvements
- Prevent unnecessary traffic fatalities and serious injuries
How You Can Help
Sign and Share the Petition: Your voice matters! By signing the petition and sharing it widely, we can put pressure on Mayor Parker and City Council to prioritize road safety in the FY2026 budget. Sign the Petition Here. You can also amplify this effort by attending the Vision Zero Hearing on 2.18.25 to be held at City Hall.