During a recent city council meeting, officials discussed the development of the 2024 Ellensburg Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP), which aims to enhance roadway safety for all users. The city has secured funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration, which allocated $5 billion over five years to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

Josh Mattson from the Public Works and Utilities Department introduced the plan, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in its development. The city has partnered with KPG Somas to facilitate this process, which includes establishing a Vision Zero task force aimed at eliminating traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. This task force will review past city planning efforts and assist in creating a prioritized project list for future implementation grants.

Carissa Withhune from KPG Somas outlined the engagement strategy, which includes recruiting \"Trusted Advocates\" from underserved communities to ensure diverse perspectives are included in the planning process. The broader community will also be invited to provide input on the preliminary project list once it is established.

Council members raised questions regarding the timeline for the project, with the next application deadline for implementation funds set for May 2025. The planning phase is expected to be completed within a year, allowing the city to apply for additional funding to support the identified safety improvements.

Additionally, discussions touched on the relationship between the SS4A program and existing Complete Streets initiatives, highlighting shared principles that could enhance the city's approach to roadway design.

The meeting underscored the city's commitment to improving transportation safety through comprehensive planning and community involvement, setting the stage for future enhancements to Ellensburg's infrastructure.