DEPARTMENT NAME HERE

Hillsborough MPO Vision Zero Action Plan 

NOTEWORTHY PRACTICE 

FHWA-SA-19-015

The Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) developed the Vision 

Zero Action Plan to incorporate safety planning into its operations. The MPO took 

a multidisciplinary approach to safety improvements.

The Dangerous Reality

Each day, Hillsborough County residents 

travel roads with the highest traffic 

fatality rate per capita among large 

counties in the United States.1From 2012 

to 2018, nearly 1,300 people died as a 

result of motor vehicle crashes in the 

county.2 Moreover, the Tampa Bay area 

has one of the highest rates of pedestrian 

fatalities among metropolitan areas in the 

United States. On average, one 

pedestrian and one bicyclist are involved 

in a crash every day. A significant portion 

of these incidents results in severe 

injuries or deaths. 

The Hillsborough MPO is responsible for 

establishing transportation priorities for 

Tampa, Temple Terrace, Plant City, and 

unincorporated Hillsborough County. In partnership with state and local stakeholders, the MPO created the Vision Zero 

Action Plan. Partners in the Vision Zero Coalition include the Tampa City Council, Hillsborough County Commission, 

Temple Terrace City Council, Plant City Commission, School Board of Hillsborough County, emergency responders, 

businesses, and nonprofits. All of them share a goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries on area roadways.

Hillsborough County Traffic-Related Fatalities, 2012–2018.

Four Action Tracks

The Vision Zero Action Plan 

contains four tracks. Members of 

the Vision Zero Coalition created 

goals and specific activities 

supporting each track. Together, 

these multi-disciplinary elements 

formed a roadmap for the Vision 

Zero Action Plan, described 

below. 

The Vision Zero Coalition.
Low-Cost Retrofits and Pop-Up Treatments

Complete streets, cycle tracks, and other projects 

improve safety but often require a large investment 

and a long time to accomplish. Saving lives in the 

short term with limited public dollars calls for 

creativity. This track set out to improve safety 

incrementally by using data to pinpoint locations for 

low-cost actions that can be completed in one or

two years, such as painted temporary bike lanes.

Painted Temporary Green Bike Lane.

(Source: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/bright-greenbike-lane-painted-in-temple-terrace-hopes-to-raise-ridersafety) 

Public Awareness and Education Strategies

Vision Zero’s success depends on many voices 

communicating a core messages in ways that 

resonate. This action track focuses on identifying key 

audiences for the initiative, choosing the most 

effective mediums to reach them and tailoring Vision 

Zero’s messages in compelling ways for each 

audience.

Shared Responsibility for Safe Road Behavior 

Safe road behavior is everyone’s responsibility. Preventing dangerous behaviors is not solely the responsibility of law 

enforcement. This action track focuses on ways to reduce dangerous behaviors by all road users. It also considers 

methods beyond policing to inhibit dangerous behaviors, including engineering and education.

Facilitating Culture Change through Policies and Programs

Reaching zero road deaths means positively changing the culture that contributes to the problems. It includes changing 

the way professionals in the private and public sectors approach driving, biking, and walking. This track also focuses on 

ways to avoid perpetuating the problems in the built environment.

Outcome

The implementation of 

the Vision Zero Action 

Plan shows positive 

trends. The program 

started in December 

2017, and quarterly 

tracking shows a 

decline in Hillsborough

County traffic deaths

since that time. In 2018,

the County had the 

lowest total number of 

traffic deaths over the 

last six-year period. The 

cumulative efforts of the 

MPO, partners, and stakeholders are moving Hillsborough MPO toward zero traffic fatalities.

Hillsborough County Traffic Deaths, 2018.

Contact Information

Gena Torres, Executive Planner, Hillsborough County MPO, torresg@plancom.org, 813-273-3774 (ext. 357).

References

1 2017 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data and U.S. Census population estimates for 2017.

2 Florida Department of Health. FLHealthCHARTS. http://www.flhealthcharts.com/charts/default.aspx.