OMAHA, Nebraska (WOWT) – Alejandra Jimenez’s brother, Hector Jimenez Jr., died in a motorbike accident in 2015.
“It was really a defining moment in my life,” Jimenez added. “A moment that shattered my world.” And not only mine. “My entire family’s.”
So far this year, the city has seen 42 collision fatalities, the most since at least 2015.
“It was really a defining moment in my life,” Jimenez added. “A moment that shattered my world.” And not only mine. “My entire family’s.”
So far this year, the city has seen 42 collision fatalities, the most since at least 2015.
“It’s shocking because I feel that, as a community, it’s our shared responsibility to take care of one another,” Jimenez told the audience.
This is also the first year the city has implemented its Vision Zero plan. It aims to reduce road fatalities in the city to zero.
Trilety Wade, co-founder of Safe Omaha Streets, told First Alert 6 that she does not believe this year’s mortality numbers represent the city’s efforts. Instead, she argued it shows how crucial the strategy is.
“There could be correlation but no causation,” according to Wade. “It shows the absolute need for all the work that’s being done and, hopefully, will continue to be done with Vision Zero at the city level.”
The Vision Zero plan contains 25 policy and strategic suggestions. The city stated that in its first year, they implemented over a dozen of them and finished four, including the formation of a Fatal Crash Review Committee.
“We would actually send them the actual crash reports for each crash—each fatal crash—that happened in that corridor,” said Vision Zero organizer Jeff Sobcyk. “So we would be speaking specifically to each crash and talking about the specifics, again, what led up to that and if there are any holes in the safe systems that we see could be addressed.”
That group will be made up of five people recruited from various areas, including police, fire, planning, and public works.
Sobcyk stated that the five names have not yet been selected, but they want to hold their first meeting in early 2025.
The Safe Routes to School strategy is still a priority for them to work on.
Sobcyk stated that it will develop a process to streamline the search for safety enhancements in Omaha schools.
Depending on what is acceptable for each school, they may include traffic lights, stop signs, and medians.
“All of the tools are available,” Sobcyk stated. “Sidewalks are connected evenly. Perhaps some missing sidewalks need to be added, or safety upgrades for only marked crosswalks, better connections for those sidewalks, or shorter crossing distances.”
That plan will most likely be completed in late 2025.
Safe Omaha Streets would also like to see OPD increase its traffic enforcement personnel.
Furthermore, they feel that improvements at the state level are necessary to reduce road fatalities.