The Spring Hill City Council formally adopted the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, a document staff and consultants described as a framework for reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries and for pursuing federal discretionary grant funding.

The plan, prepared by HDR and presented by consultant Jay Aber, lays out a “safe systems” approach, maps of crashes and a prioritized project list that separates city, county and state-jurisdiction projects. Staff said the plan is roughly 80 pages plus appendices and reflects community engagement including in-person pop-ups, an open house, about 130 online survey responses and about 200 map pins. Consultants said the public repeatedly identified sidewalks and safety along U.S. 169 and intersections at 190 First, 200 & 15th, and 190 First & Ridgeview as priorities.

Adoption and next steps: Council adopted the plan to establish a framework to pursue implementation grants for seven priority project areas; staff said the adoption enables access to certain federal grant programs and that the city will next solicit letters of support and apply for implementation funding. The consultant recommended establishing a transportation safety board, pursuing a Vision Zero resolution, and producing an annual Vision Zero progress and implementation report.

Council discussion: council members asked whether the plan would lock the city into a rigid program; consultants and staff emphasized the plan is a guiding document and that priorities could change as annexations or development change conditions. Consultants also explained that traffic-safety analyses under Title 23, U.S. Code § 407 (23 USC 407) are protected from discovery and that adoption does not create discoverable liability for the city.

Why it matters: staff said the plan will help the city prioritize safety projects, strengthen grant applications, and provide guidance for sidewalks, roundabouts, traffic-calming and quick-build countermeasures.

Outcome: motion to adopt the SS4A Comprehensive Safety Action Plan passed 5-0-0.