July 1, 2025
DVRPC’s Regional Safety Task Force (RSTF) celebrated its 20th anniversary at a recent meeting that brought together safety professionals, planners, and advocates from across the region.
DVRPC’s Regional Safety Task Force (RSTF) celebrated its 20th anniversary at a recent meeting that brought together safety professionals, planners, and advocates from across the region. Marking two decades of collaboration and progress in transportation safety, the milestone event featured a panel of experts who shared insights on regional safety strategies, data challenges, and Vision Zero initiatives. The meeting also served as a moment of reflection and forward thinking, as attendees looked back on the task force’s accomplishments and shared their vision for its future.
The RTSF works to reduce crashes and eliminate serious injuries and fatalities on roadways in the Greater Philadelphia region. The group brings together professionals from many sectors to address safety concerns across roadways. By partnering with traditional planning organizations and non-traditional stakeholders, the task force uses breakout discussions to develop safety strategies and plays a key role in creating the forthcoming Regional Vision Zero Plan.
The RTSF was launched in 2005 in response to growing interest in transportation safety across the nation and the region. It emerged alongside DVRPC’s Destination 2030 Long-Range Plan, which prioritized safety. The RSTF’s first meeting brought together over 60 participants from 41 agencies, signaling strong regional support. From the outset, the task force promoted forward-thinking ideas, such as the adoption of modern roundabouts, and provided a platform for professionals to collaborate across disciplines.
Since then, the RSTF has become a key driver of safety planning in the region. It has played an active role in shaping the discourse around traffic safety by promoting a culture of traffic safety and providing strategic resources such as the Media Toolkit. The forum helped launch initiatives around Vision Zero and the Safe System Approach, while continuing to evolve through partnerships and public engagement. With over 70 meetings, 100+ member organizations, and thousands of participants, the RSTF remains central to shaping a safer transportation system.
During the June 2025 RSTF meeting, a panel of three guest speakers gave brief presentations highlighting their regional transportation safety work. Ashley Moran of the Acadiana Planning Commission (ACP) outlined Louisiana’s statewide, top-down safety approach through the State Highway Safety Plan, which coordinates all of the state’s MPOs and provides data tools and planning support. She emphasized ACP’s local engagement in the Lafayette area, addressing issues like impaired driving and occupant protection through media campaigns, safety checkpoints, school-based programs, and other outreach efforts. Ellen Zavisca of the Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) discussed AMPO’s support for over 400 MPOs through a new Safety Interest Group, and noted that crash data is often incomplete, as police reports underrepresent the full scope of incidents.
Erik Braaten of the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) shared the agency’s work across eight Colorado counties on transportation, land use, and aging services. He highlighted DRCOG’s Regional Vision Zero Working Group, now a key forum for collaboration and grant support, and the Crash Data Consortium, which works to improve data quality. He also emphasized the usefulness of DRCOG’s Crash Data Dashboard for regional decision-makers. During the panel discussion, the speakers shared insights on group structure, member engagement, and safety goals. Ashley Moran stressed ACP’s focus on inclusive participation and quarterly targets; Ellen Zavisca underscored the importance of accessible communication across sectors; and Erik Braaten acknowledged the fluid nature of group membership. All three emphasized the role of their groups in shaping safety culture, whether through data transparency, pedestrian-focused design thinking, or humanizing traffic fatalities. They concluded by commending DVRPC and encouraging continued peer collaboration across regions.
Inspired by the panel, DVRPC’s RSTF attendees concluded the meeting by reflecting on how the RSTF has impacted their work and sharing their hopes and visions for the task force’s future. For more on the Regional Safety Task Force, visit https://www.dvrpc.org/committees/rstf/. To access the Media Toolkit, visit https://www.dvrpc.org/products/pm21007.