Subject:
Title
Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan and Neighborhood Safety Study Presentation and Discussion
Body
BACKGROUND SUMMARY:
DPW discussed the SS4A study/Action Plan with Town Council at a Work Session on March 25, 2025.
Council expressed a few concerns during the work session:
• Due to the change of federal administration at the time and with many federal grant programs being reviewed/removed at the time, Council had concerns with reimbursements for our federal SS4A grant.
• Council felt that the Neighborhood Safety Study (a sub-study apart of the SS4A study’s scope) was no longer needed. This was a minor safety study for the area bounded by Nutley/Maple/Courthouse.
Based on the work session conversation, DPW put the entire SS4A Safety Action plan study on hold moving forward.
Note - Council directed the Transportation Safety Commission with the support of Department of Public Works resources to initiate a transportation safety study for the area bounded by Courthouse Road SW, Nutley Street, and Maple Avenue on July 1, 2019.
OVERVIEW:
Staff will re-introduce and provide details on the Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan Study. The goal of a SS4A Action Plan is to develop a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries within the Town. Having this Action Plan provides critical support documentation for implementing the recommends that are presented within the study. This includes the second phase of the SS4A program, implementation Grants. This study/Action Plan will focus on the commercial areas and other high risk residential areas within Town and recommend safety improvements for all forms of Transportation.
One the main reasons DPW applied for these funds is due to the ability (allowed with this grant) to include a safety sub-study within the main study. DPW viewed this as an opportunity to move forward with the Transportation (Neighborhood) Safety Study that Council requested in the Summer of 2019. This sub-study will focus on the residential roadways within the area bounded by Courthouse Road SW, Nutley Street, and Maple Avenue and study how the adjacent commercial developments (existing and proposed) affect the residential roadways and how to best mitigate the impacts. As with the main study, this sub-study will review all form of Transportation within this area.
Based on Council’s concerns discussed at the March 25, 2025 Work Session DPW coordinated with FHWA regarding the study being on hold and requested an extension due to the hold. DPW will receive an executed agreement with extension soon.
The federal administration did not make major changes to the SS4A program and many SS4A studies nationwide are active and being reimbursed.
SUMMARY/STAFF IMPRESSIONS:
Staff is re-introducing the SS4A/Action Plan Study and seeking Council direction on the SS4A Safety Action Plan along with the Neighborhood Safety Study (sub-study within this grant).
RECOMMENDATION:
If Council is in agreement with the scope and details related to both studies, staff will present the item at a future Town Council Meeting and recommends approval of the engineering study contract or staff will adjust based on tonight’s Council feedback.