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Council adopts 'Target Zero' safety action plan to pursue federal Safe Streets funding
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 11-67 endorsing a Vision Zero "target 0" policy and a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) safety action plan; staff said College Street is a top candidate for implementation grants.
The Lacey City Council on June 3 unanimously adopted Resolution 11-67 to establish a "Target 0" Vision Zero policy and to adopt a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) safety action plan, a prerequisite for applying for federal implementation grants under the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Martin (city staff) introduced the program and said the planning grant produced a safety action plan focused on reducing fatal and serious-injury crashes. Consultant Scott Lindblom of David Evans and Associates summarized the plan’s findings: a five-year crash review showed nearly 5,000 crashes on city streets from 2019–2023 and 64 fatal or serious-injury crashes. Bike and pedestrian users were overrepresented in fatal and serious crashes—about 38%—compared with their share of roadway use.
Lindblom said the plan combined five years of crash data, community feedback (230 survey comments, with English and Spanish outreach), and a task force that included Lacey Fire, school district, police, public works and equity staff. The most at-risk intersections clustered along College Street, which accounted for three of the city’s top five high-risk intersections; other high-risk corridors include Marvin Road, Carpenter Road, Yelm Highway and Martin Way.
"College Street actually was when you look at the high risk intersections of the top 5 in the city, College Street had 3 of the top 5," Lindblom said. The action plan lists specific project concepts and a safe-systems approach to speed management, crossings, and corridor treatments that could be advanced with federal dollars.
Council discussion touched on county-owned intersections (for example, Martin and Carpenter) and incremental improvements such as signage and pedestrian improvements that can be advanced outside of competitive grant cycles. Councilmember comments repeatedly emphasized speed management and pedestrian safety near schools. The mayor and council members endorsed moving promptly because the SS4A implementation grant application deadline was June 26.
Outcome: The council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 11-67, enabling the city to apply for SS4A implementation funding to pursue corridor and intersection projects (College Street identified as top candidate). Staff said the plan will guide grant applications and prioritization of safety projects.
Why it matters: Adoption of the safety action plan is a formal step that allows the city to pursue federal implementation funding to build street-safety improvements intended to reduce serious and fatal crashes; it identifies the College Street corridor as ripe for initial projects.
