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Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) MPO

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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 map to open a detailed dashboard to filter projects by jurisdiction, benefit cost, and Community Priority Projects.

MAPA is also providing a Project Prioritization Tool to assist jurisdictions in developing a program for safety projects.

Project Prioritization Tool – coming soon!

Project Prioritization Tool Quick Guide – coming soon!

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 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.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.

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.

Download the project handout or explore related data here. 

SAFETY SNAPSHOTS  

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: 

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. 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN

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. 

Click here to view the Community Engagement Plan!

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

  • 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 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.

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. View information on that project at www.mapacog.org/projects/ss4a-rpa. 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 Regional Planning Affiliation 18 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 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. 

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:

 

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