Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)
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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 that will provide $5 billion dollars over 5 years 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 will be leading the development of a regional Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP). This plan kicked off in Spring 2024 and is expected to be complete by Fall 2025. 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 will locate key areas of safety concern and establish solutions to increase safety and reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries in our region. Strategies and projects included in the CSAP will be eligible for future implementation funding.
Download the project handout or explore related data here.
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. 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.
Here are several ways you can get involved as we move through this process:
- View and share the project handout
- Partner with us to conduct outreach in your communities
- Provide input in our project surveys
- Schedule a time to talk with us about becoming a partner
- Email us at safestreets@mapacog.org for more information, future updates, and opportunities to get involved!
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Nationwide, traffic deaths are increasing at an alarming rate, particularly in disadvantaged and underrepresented communities.
From 2016-2020 the MAPA region has seen a slightly lower overall increase, has experienced a higher rate of nonmotorist fatalities than the either Nebraska or Iowa state averages, and a disproportionately high impact on disadvantaged communities.
RELATED EFFORTS & STUDIES
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. This 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 Regional Planning Affiliation 18 and will also be leading the development of the CSAP for this area.
Pottawattamie County is teaming up with 96 other Iowa counties to develop a Local Road Safety Plan through a separate grant from the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. Their plan will address all county roads. The remaining jurisdictions in the county, including the Cities of Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Crescent, and McClelland, are included in MAPA’s plan. This plan will be considered during CSAP development.
The City of Omaha’s Vision Zero Action Plan (VZAP) is complete and available at www.omahavisionzero.com. 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 here.
- Iowa Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment
- Nebraska Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment (Appendix A)
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 USDOT SHSP page to learn more about this requirement. View the individual state plans at the links below: