City of Boise Announces Traffic Fatality Review Task Force

In response to the surge in traffic crashes and fatalities between vehicles and bicyclists and pedestrians, the City of Boise is taking steps to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors. During the City Council work session yesterday, a series of transportation safety initiatives were unveiled, including the formation of the Traffic Fatality Review Task Force.

The Traffic Fatality Review Task Force, a collaborative effort between the City of Boise, Ada County Highway District (ACHD), and law enforcement, aims to address the recent increase in fatal and serious crashes. The task force will meet quarterly to analyze these incidents comprehensively, identifying immediate improvements to enhance bike/ped safety in affected areas.

“We’ve had a really heartbreaking year when it comes to pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, not just in Boise, all across Ada County and really all across the Treasure Valley,” said Jimmy Hallyburton, Boise City Council President. “We want to make sure we are both responding to these in a way to fix problems, but we are also doing whatever we can to prevent crashes like this from happening again in the future.”

The establishment of the Fatal Crash Review Task Force further underscores the City's dedication to safety. This committee will convene quarterly to analyze fatal crashes in Boise, assessing factors such as engineering, environment, and behavior that may have contributed to these incidents. Working closely with ACHD, the committee will provide valuable insights into trends and offer recommendations for policies, infrastructure improvements, educational campaigns, and more.

The proposed membership of the Fatal Crash Review Task Force includes representatives from the Boise Police Department, ACHD, and the City of Boise. These experts will work together to make our streets safer for everyone.

Among other safety initiatives, The City of Boise is also working to become a Certified Bicycle Friendly City, focusing on improving cycling infrastructure and safety measures to reduce crashes. The Bicycle Friendly Community designation is awarded to communities with exceptional commitment to the promotion of cycling. Awarded communities also receive guidance from the League of American Bicyclists on how to improve bicycle friendliness within the community, which will allow Boise to continue to improve safety for its bicyclists. Though Boise has been certified as a bicycle friendly city in the past, it does not currently hold this title.