Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) MPO

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FY26 SS4A Grant Application

In the most recent call for projects, the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program grant application placed a priority on projects that improve Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response to crashes. In May 2026, MAPA submitted a regional SS4A Supplemental Planning and Demonstration grant application to test and evaluate enhanced post-crash response strategies across multiple jurisdictions, including Bennington, Waterloo, Gretna, Council Bluffs, and Omaha; spanning urban, suburban, and rural service areas.

If awarded, participating agencies would be able to procure and deploy equipment necessary to support enhanced post-crash response, including vehicle stabilization systems, advanced extrication tools, and portable whole blood storage, warming, and transfusion equipment.

Learn more in this online StoryMap.

Ver o descargar el Plan de Acción Integral de Seguridad en español.

View or download plan appendices:

Appendix A: Community Engagement Plan
Appendix B: Data Support Technical Memorandum
Appendix C: Quick-Build Guide
Appendix D: CSAP Resolution
Appendix E: Community Profiles
Appendix F: Policy Review

View or download project documents:

Community Profiles are available for each jurisdiction in the MAPA SS4A project area. These profiles highlight the top safety concerns in each area and provide tailored recommendations for improvement. They are closely tied to the work in Chapter 5, which outlines the process of narrowing over 1,000 potential improvements down to 120 Community Priority Projects with the greatest potential to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. More detailed descriptions of these projects can be found within the community profiles.

PRIORITIZED PROJECTS

The map below presents the prioritized projects developed to address safety needs on the High Priority Network. Click the link below to open a detailed dashboard to filter projects by jurisdiction, benefit cost, and Community Priority Projects.

SS4A Prioritized Projects Dashboard

<h3>PROJECT OVERVIEW</h3> To address the dramatic rise in traffic deaths and serious injuries, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is making an ambitious long term goal of reaching zero deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s highways, roads, and streets. Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) is a <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">competitive grant program</a> of the the USDOT to improve traffic safety by supporting local communities in the development of safety action plans and the implementation of projects which reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the local road network.<a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MAP-scaled.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-7714 alignright" src="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/MAP-1024x745.jpg" alt="Map of the Safe Streets region, covering Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska and the cities of Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, McClelland and Crescent in Iowa. " width="410" height="295" /></a> MAPA was awarded planning funds through the FY22 grant application cycle and has developed a regional Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP). The plan includes the areas of Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska, as well as the cities of Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Crescent and McClelland in Iowa. Through the development of the comprehensive safety action plan, we located key areas of safety concern and established solutions that our member jurisdictions can use to increase safety and reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries in our region. Strategies and projects included in the CSAP are now eligible for implementation funding. <h3>Download the <a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SS4A-One-Pager-Handout_2024.12.02.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">project handout</a> or explore related data <a href="https://arcg.is/1SHuvT1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. </h3> <h3>SAFETY SNAPSHOTS </h3> We’re excited to share four new safety snapshots that highlight key traffic safety issues in our community. These snapshots are based on comprehensive local crash data analyzed by our team as part of our ongoing effort to develop a regional CSAP with the goal of reducing crashes and improving road safety. View the snapshots and some key insights here: <ul> <li><a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SS4A-One-Pagers_YOUNG_2024.11.26.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Safer People: Younger Drivers</a> <ul> <li>Those under the age of 25 are 1.6 times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury crash than other drivers. </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SS4A-One-Pagers_IMPAIR_2024.11.26.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Safer People: Impaired Driving</a> <ul> <li>A driver under the influence is 3.8 times more likely to be involved in a fatal or serious injury crash compared to an unimpaired driver. </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/SS4A-One-Pagers_MOTORCYCLE_2024.11.26.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Safer Vehicles: Motorcycles</a> <ul> <li>When involved in a crash, one in five motorcyclists are killed or seriously injured. </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SS4A-One-Pagers_EMERGENCY_2025.02.12.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Safer Roads: Post-Crash Care</a> <ul> <li>Of the crashes resulting in fatalities from 2018-2022, 51% requested emergency transport to a medical facility</li> </ul> </li> <li>View or download <a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SS4A-One-Pagers_ALL_2025.02.12.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all four snapshots</a></li> </ul>   <h2>HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?</h2> To be successful, this initiative will need a coalition of champions, experts, community members and leaders to advocate for regional safety efforts. We have already been reaching out to local jurisdictions and key stakeholders to build the teams that will help us define our planning structure and highlight our key focus areas. <h3>COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN</h3> To kick off engagement efforts, MAPA held a Co-Creation Workshop on Monday, April 22, 2024, which provided an opportunity to collaboratively craft the project’s community engagement approach with direct input from community partners and advocacy groups. <a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MAPA_SS4A_Community_Engagement_Plan_PUBLIC_UPDATED_20250130.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to view the Community Engagement Plan!</a> <h3>OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED</h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">View and share the <a href="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SS4A-One-Pager-Handout_2024.12.02.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">project handout</a></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Partner with us to conduct outreach in your communities</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Provide input in our project surveys</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Schedule a time to talk with us about becoming a partner</li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Email us at <a href="mailto:safestreets@mapacog.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">safestreets@mapacog.org</a> for more information, future updates, and opportunities to get involved!</li> </ul> <h2>WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?</h2> Nationwide, traffic deaths are increasing at an alarming rate, particularly in disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. From 2018-2022 the MAPA region has experienced a higher rate of non-motorist fatalities than either the Nebraska or Iowa state averages, and a disproportionately high impact on disadvantaged communities. <img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-8490" src="http://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SS4A-disadvantaged-community-infographic_2024.11.30.png" alt="" width="876" height="244" srcset="https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SS4A-disadvantaged-community-infographic_2024.11.30.png 8534w, https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SS4A-disadvantaged-community-infographic_2024.11.30-300x84.png 300w, https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SS4A-disadvantaged-community-infographic_2024.11.30-1024x286.png 1024w, https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SS4A-disadvantaged-community-infographic_2024.11.30-1536x428.png 1536w, https://mapacog.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SS4A-disadvantaged-community-infographic_2024.11.30-2048x571.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 876px) 100vw, 876px" /> <h2>RELATED EFFORTS & STUDIES</h2> The following project and studies will be incorporated or considered in the development of the regional Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. Iowa Regional Planning Affiliations 13 & 18 will be working together to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP) from a separate grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. View information on that project at <a href="https://mapacog.org/projects/ss4a-rpa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.mapacog.org/projects/ss4a-rpa</a>. That plan will encompass the cities of Atlantic, Clarinda, Red Oak and Shenandoah in RPA-13 and the cities of Glenwood, Harlan and Missouri Valley in RPA-18. MAPA administers <a href="https://mapacog.org/services/transportation/regional-planning-affiliation-18-rpa-18/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Regional Planning Affiliation 18</a> and will also be leading the development of the CSAP for this area. Each county in Iowa is developing a safety plan for county roads. This effort is funded through a separate grant from the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. County plans will be considered during CSAP development. The City of Omaha’s Vision Zero Action Plan (VZAP) is complete and available at <a href="http://www.omahavisionzero.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.omahavisionzero.com</a>. MAPA supported development of the plan and will work to support plan implementation. The MAPA CSAP will incorporate the Omaha VZAP, and extend the safety planning process to the remainder of the MAPA SS4A Study Area. The states of Iowa and Nebraska have both recently completed Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessments. This new assessment, established as a requirement by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, supplements the existing state Strategic Highway Safety Planning process, and provides greater insight and statewide recommendations for improving safety for vulnerable road users (non-motorists) who share the roads with vehicles. Find out more on the assessments <a href="https://highways.dot.gov/safety/hsip/vru-safety-assessment-guidance">here</a>. <ul> <li><a href="https://iowadot.gov/traffic/shsp/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iowa Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment</a></li> <li><a href="https://dot.nebraska.gov/media/ozwcsbj3/2022-2026-nebraska-shsp.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nebraska Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment</a> (Appendix A)</li> </ul> The states of Iowa and Nebraska both have recently updated their Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). A Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) is a statewide safety plan that provides a comprehensive framework for reducing highway fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. View the <a href="https://highways.dot.gov/safety/hsip/shsp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">USDOT SHSP page</a> to learn more about this requirement. View the individual state plans at the links below: <ul> <li><a href="https://dot.nebraska.gov/safety/shsp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nebraska Strategic Highway Safety Plan</a></li> <li><a href="https://iowadot.gov/traffic/shsp/home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Iowa Strategic Highway Safety Plan</a></li> </ul>

MEASURING PROGRESS

The MAPA Comprehensive Safety Action Plan identified safety metrics to measure regional progress towards CSAP recommendations and infrastructure project implementation. These metrics were chosen based upon their overall expected reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes, and prioritization through the stakeholder and community input process.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

To address the dramatic rise in traffic deaths and serious injuries, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is making an ambitious long term goal of reaching zero deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s highways, roads, and streets.

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) is a competitive grant program of the USDOT to improve traffic safety by supporting local communities in the development of safety action plans and the implementation of projects which reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the local road network.

MAPA was awarded planning funds through the FY22 grant application cycle and has developed a regional Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP). The plan includes the areas of Douglas and Sarpy Counties in Nebraska, as well as the cities of Council Bluffs, Carter Lake, Crescent and McClelland in Iowa.

Through the development of the comprehensive safety action plan, we located key areas of safety concern and established solutions that our member jurisdictions can use to increase safety and reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries in our region. Strategies and projects included in the CSAP are now eligible for implementation funding.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

To be successful, this initiative will need a coalition of champions, experts, community members and leaders to advocate for regional safety efforts.

View and share the project handout
Invite us to talk about transportation safety to your group or organization
Schedule a time to talk with MAPA staff about safety projects in your community
Email us at safestreets@mapacog.org for more information, future updates, and opportunities to get involved!

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) MPO

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Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) MPO

FY26 SS4A Grant Application

Ver o descargar el Plan de Acción Integral de Seguridad en español.

PRIORITIZED PROJECTS

MEASURING PROGRESS

PROJECT OVERVIEW

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

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