Port Richey council adopts Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to pursue federal safety funding

The Port Richey City Council on Sept. 9 adopted Resolution 25-30, approving a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan developed under the U.S. DOT Safe Streets for All program to identify roadway safety projects and support future grant applications.

The plan, presented to the council by Nayan Amin of TJKM Transportation Consultants and introduced by City Manager Andrew Butterfield, is based on collision data from 2018–2023, community outreach and stakeholder input. Amin told the council the analysis identified 20 injury collisions during that period and used those results to map a “high injury network,” prioritize projects and assemble a safety toolkit of countermeasures for signalized and unsignalized intersections and roadway segments.

City staff and the consultant emphasized that adoption gives the city an approved, data-backed document needed for many federal and state safety grants. Amin said the plan includes community engagement work (public workshops and an interactive project website), equity screening, cost estimates for recommended concepts and a list of likely funding sources.

Council discussion focused on how specific recommendations would be implemented and coordinated with state and county agencies. Vice Mayor Chris Mayer raised concerns about proposals that could close or limit access to driveways along U.S. 19, and asked how the plan would affect local businesses. Amin and Butterfield said the CSAP lists potential projects and countermeasures for grant eligibility; any changes to state- or county-owned roads would require additional coordination with FDOT or Pasco County and would not happen without further study or negotiation.

Mayor John Eric Hoover called for a vote after brief discussion; council members voted in favor and the motion carried.

The adopted document is intended as a foundation for grant applications, with the consultant and staff recommending the city use the prioritized project list and cost estimates when seeking future safety funding. Staff said the plan also includes recommendations to improve enforcement data collection (a citywide speed survey) and identifies projects near schools and disadvantaged communities for prioritization.

City staff said next steps include using the CSAP to apply for grants and coordinating any projects that affect state or county facilities with the appropriate agencies.

Resolution 25-30 takes effect immediately per the resolution language read into the record at the meeting. The council did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the mayor asked for verbal aye/oppose, and the motion carried.