Richmond DOT chief says zero traffic deaths possible by 2030

State of play: Boenau, a longtime Richmonder and transportation engineer who has worked with the city since 2023, is stepping into the role at a time of intensified scrutiny over street safety.

• The city's new Department of Transportation launched last month after a string of pedestrian deaths, consolidating transportation planning, engineering and community engagement under one team within Public Works.
• Drivers have killed at least seven pedestrians since the holidays, including 23-year-old Virginia Living editor Hope Cartwright, who was hit in a crosswalk at Cary and 2nd streets on Monday.

The latest: Those deaths have heightened urgency around long-planned safety upgrades across the city.

• One of the largest is coming soon with the reconstruction of Hull Street — part of the city's "high injury network" — announced Tuesday.
• Starting March 16, sections of the South Richmond corridor will fully close for the six-phase project aimed at reducing speeds and improving pedestrian safety.

Yes, but: Engineering fixes alone won't eliminate traffic deaths, Boenau says.

• The self-described "aggressive pedestrian" tells Axios that making roads safer means changes like road diets and traffic calming measures.
• But he says it also means enforcement and preventing impaired and distracted driving.

Zoom in: In a sit-down interview with Axios, Boenau outlined how that philosophy will shape three of his priorities for this year.

1: Pedestrian safety

Boenau says the city has a "specific, deliberate, intentional focus on the pedestrian" and that includes launching a citywide pedestrian master plan in the next few months.

• It'll also look like expanding tools that give walkers a head start at traffic signals before drivers get the green light, create more bike lanes, and limit left turn yields at some lights across the city.

2: Culture change

Boenau says safer streets require reshaping what feels normal behind the wheel, especially with speeding.

• Part of that is done through school-zone enforcement and redesigning streets (like making left turns tighter) so speeding feels uncomfortable instead of instinctual.
• He also thinks change requires empathy, and experiencing the city as a pedestrian, cyclist or wheelchair user can make someone a more cautious driver.
• One busy intersection that keeps him up at night — Broad Street and Belvidere — is a reminder of how high traffic, street design and human behavior can collide.

2: Community engagement

Boenau wants transportation conversations to happen year-round through panels, forums, events and community gatherings instead of only public meetings.

• The community engagement team will lead that effort to keep residents informed on the department's work and get them more involved.

The bottom line: One of the few times Boenau will use the word "accelerate" in a good way is when he's talking about Richmond's transportation future.

• If you're driving, he wants you to slow down.
• But, "if you're headed toward building a better place, I want you to do that as fast as possible."