The Wenatchee City Council authorized the mayor to negotiate a contract with Farrar & Piers to develop the city’s Safe Streets for All safety action plan, a data-driven infrastructure plan funded in part by a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) grant.

Public Works Director Tom Wachholder told the council the city secured a $200,000 FHWA grant and budgeted $250,000 for the project; staff recommended Farrar & Piers after a qualifications review of three firms. “This project… will evaluate all crash data, provide updated mapping and GIS data, and… produce a priority list and implementation plan,” Wachholder said.

The nut graf: The planning effort will identify near-term, midterm and long-term infrastructure improvements to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes; staff said outreach will be coordinated with the city’s parallel community safety action plan to address behavioral and engineering elements together.

Councilmember Charlie Atkinson moved the authorization and Councilmember Ewer seconded; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff said the plan will overlay crash data with census indicators to help prioritize equitable investments in pedestrian and roadway safety.

Wachholder and council members emphasized the two-pronged approach: infrastructure prioritized by the safety plan and behavioral programs under the community safety action plan. Staff will return with a negotiated contract and a scope of work for council review and execution by the mayor.