The New Orleans City Council endorsed the Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan on April 9, passing Resolution R-26-137 in support of efforts to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries throughout the city.
The plan aims to address a rise in pedestrian and cyclist deaths by identifying high-risk corridors and prioritizing safety improvements such as better lighting, visible crosswalks, protected intersections, and traffic-calming measures. The initiative sets a goal of reducing traffic deaths by 50 percent by 2031 and eliminating them entirely by 2041.
District D Councilmember Eugene Green said, “We’ve seen a troubling number of pedestrian fatalities across our city, including a cyclist killed while crossing an intersection in Tremé on Sunday. These tragedies are preventable. This plan gives us a clear path to make our streets safer for everyone. This is the beginning of a discussion on what is needed to make our city streets safer for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians.” Green added, “Adoption is just the first step. We must stay committed to implementation and accountability to save lives.”
Council Vice President Matthew Willard said, “Too many people in our city are being seriously injured or killed in preventable traffic accidents. I support the New Orleans Safety Action Plan, which lays out clear, data-driven street safety goals and strategies to which we commit ourselves with today’s resolution.” District A Councilmember Aimee McCarron noted that between 2019 and 2023 nearly 300 people lost their lives on local roadways: “This data-driven plan is a great first step to designing safer streets and reducing risks for the pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists navigating our city each day. I look forward to working with the Moreno Administration, my colleagues on the City Council, as well as our state and federal partners to secure meaningful funding we can so begin delivering on these safety improvements that all New Orleans residents deserve.”
District B Councilmember Lesli Harris said she was proud to support what she called “a serious, data-driven commitment” after citing problem areas like Broad Street: “We know the problem areas in District B… We have the roadmap. I will continue pushing for the resources and partnerships…to turn this plan into real infrastructure improvements our neighborhoods can count on.” District C’s Freddie King III called bicycle accidents deeply personal: “These aren’t just statistics—families are forever changed… By investing in safer streets…we’re taking real steps to prevent future loss.” District E’s Jason Hugues emphasized focus on corridors seeing most harm.
Next steps include seeking federal funding opportunities while coordinating across departments and partners for implementation of priority projects identified within the plan.