President’s Vision Zero Task Force
Rams Moving Safely
The President’s Vision Zero Task Force is charged with the examination of all mobility and safety related to pedestrians, personal vehicles, University and contractor work vehicles, bicyclists, skateboarders, e-scooter riders, buses and trains on and near the main Colorado State University campus. This interdisciplinary task force will advance the priorities to improve transportation safety at CSU under the internationally recognized planning initiative, Vision Zero. The task force will pursue a set of transparent initiatives based on data collection and reporting to improve 1) Enforcement, 2) Infrastructure, 3) Policy and Standards, and 4) Education. According to the Vision Zero Network, Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries among all road users, while ensuring safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all.
Completed Tasks
Goals of the Task Force
With the ultimate goal of eliminating serious injuries and deaths related to traffic and mobility at CSU, the task force has created five subcommittees with charges based on the core tenets of Vision Zero, specific to the following milestones:
- Complete Streets Standards – developing a University-specific Complete Streets standard and identifying the appropriate location to house it within CSU’s Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Standards.
- Safety and Access Assessment – framework to consolidate existing and new assessment processes that address the transportation system and building exteriors at CSU into one coordinated effort, using a shared reporting platform, with input from diverse campus stakeholders.
- Crash Evaluation Process – process will supplement existing police reports and evaluate the site of the crash for potential safety improvements to be addressed immediately or as a part of the Task Force’s annual report.
- Conceptual Review – establishing a process to uphold the CSU Complete Streets standards in new construction and major remodel projects at CSU.
- Annual Reporting and Safety Prioritization – developing a template for a public-facing Annual Traffic Safety and Prioritization Report based on available data sources at CSU.
Initiatives
A detailed list of initial recommendations is available in the task force’s Recommendations to Enhance Transportation Safety on Campus (June 2020). See below for a list of actions taken since that initial report was delivered.
Traffic control and engagement
The CSUPD Recruitment Team hired four new officers to address recent staffing vacancies, whose values and interests reflect the unique culture of CSU, including strong skills in education, negotiation and traffic control. Over the 2020-21 academic year, the CSU Police have partnered with the Rams Ride Right campaign for dedicated, personal outreach to CSU students and employees who are biking, skateboarding, riding scooters and walking on CSU’s Main Campus.
Infrastructure
The “Library Knuckle” (University Ave between the Lorry Student Center and Morgan Library) emerged as the top priority for implementation in 2021. Funds were re-allocated from the Lake Street and Center Avenue account for this infrastructure improvement. The work will be completed as part of the “Transportation Infrastructure Safety Improvements Project.” Kimley-Horn is providing traffic engineering and design services. Construction was completed in Summer 2021.
Policy and standards
In Fall 2020, CSU contracted with Next Phase Engineering to engage with the CSU community to advance the Policy and Standards initiative. Outreach was completed with (9) campus groups and resulted in the “Transportation Policy and Protocol Report” and “Signing and Marking Guidelines.” The report outlines recommendations and next steps for:
- Annual Crash Reporting and Analysis
- Traffic Control Changes
- Maintenance and Asset Management
- Work Zones
- On-Campus Traffic Code
- Vision Zero
- Transportation System Accessibility
- Expansion of Priority Zones
- Speed Management through Vertical Elements
- Implementation Prioritization Process
Education
The CSU Moves online training is available to incoming students.. The Rams Ride Right positive reinforcement campaign popped up at key locations on campus throughout the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years in partnership with the CSU Police.
Projects implemented by the team and forthcoming projects
Main CSU Campus Projects
CSU Foothills Campus Projects
Map of Projects (PDF)
Task Force Members
Marc Barker – University Operations
Erika Benti – Parking and Transportation Services
Dave Bradford - Parking and Transportation Services
Laura Carter – Housing and Dining Services
Justin Dove – Student Disability Center
Aaron Fodge - Parking & Transportation Services
David Hansen – Facilities Management
Leelee Kates – Health Network
Jessica Kramer - Facilities Management
Randy Lamb – Housing and Dining Services
Jen Marley – Facilities Management
Christie Mathews - Housing and Dining Services
Josh McClure – CSUPD
Sergeant Matt Snyder – CSUPD
Stakeholder Outreach
The President’s Vision Zero Task Force meets with stakeholders throughout CSU and the City of Fort Collins to educate the community about the goals of the task force and solicit input on safety and accessibility of the transportation system at CSU.
Here’s a list of stakeholders the task force has met with.
Stakeholder Groups
- Administrative Professional Council
- ASCSU Cabinet
- ASCSU Senate
- Bicycle Advisory Committee
- Campus Bicycle Advisory Committee
- Classified Personnel Council
- Faculty Council Executive Committee
- Foothills Campus
- Fort Collins Disability Advisory Commission
- Fort Collins Transportation Board
- Inclusive Physical and Virtual Campus Committee
- Master Plan Committee
- Physical Development Committee
- CSU Police Dept Command Staff
- President’s Sustainability Commission
- Public Safety Team
- Fort Collins Senior Advisory Board
- South Campus
- Student Affairs – VP Council
- Student Disability Center
- Transfort
Please contact Erika Benti (erika.benti@colostate.edu to schedule a stakeholder meeting for your group.