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Evansville Opens Walnut Street Corridor as Complete Street

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~ Evansville, IN - The City of Evansville has officially reopened the Walnut Street corridor this week, showcasing a "Complete Street" project that includes new pavement, sidewalks, and a dedicated bike path. This project serves as a prime example of the city's adoption of the Vision Zero initiative, which aims to create safer and more accessible streets for all residents.

Mayor Stephanie Terry expressed her excitement for the project, stating that it represents the future of Evansville's streets. "It's safer. It's accessible. It's built for everyone, no matter how they get around," she said. "This project is a perfect example of the kind of long-term change we want to see citywide through Vision Zero."

Vision Zero is a global movement that strives to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries through smarter roadway design, data-driven enforcement, and community-centered planning. In July, the Evansville City Council passed a resolution in support of adopting this initiative.

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The local effort to bring Vision Zero to Evansville began with a personal request from Dr. Ahmed Khan, whose son Muhammad was tragically killed in a traffic accident in 2024. Dr. Khan approached city officials with a proposal to honor his son's memory by committing to a safer future for all residents.

In response, Mayor Terry formed a Vision Zero task force led by Deputy Mayor Lindsay Snyder and representatives from various city departments and community organizations such as the Welborn Baptist Foundation and SWIRCA. Together, they have begun developing plans to incorporate Vision Zero principles into Evansville's infrastructure and policies.

"Too many families in Evansville have been impacted by traffic crashes," Mayor Terry stated. "Vision Zero is about changing that. Every resident deserves to move around our city safely, whether they're driving, walking, biking or taking the bus."

Originating in Sweden in 1997, Vision Zero has since spread to cities across the United States and the world. Its core philosophy is simple: no loss of life on our streets is acceptable. Unlike traditional approaches that place responsibility solely on individual road users, Vision Zero emphasizes systemic changes to create a safer transportation network for all.

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The City Council's resolution was the second of three required steps to become an official Vision Zero city. The first step is to adopt a formal resolution, followed by forming a leadership committee, and finally submitting a Vision Zero application outlining safety goals, strategies, and implementation plans.

Evansville has already submitted its application and is now awaiting a final response. In the meantime, Dr. Khan and a community partner have established a nonprofit organization to raise funds in support of Evansville's Vision Zero goals, including education campaigns and infrastructure improvements.

The Walnut Street corridor serves as the first visible example of the city's commitment to Vision Zero. As Evansville continues to move forward with this initiative, residents can expect more investments in safe and multimodal transportation options designed to make every trip - whether it be to work, school, the store or home - safer and more reliable.

Filed Under: Government, City
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