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Regional Safe Streets for All grant: local planners seek steering-committee members
Summary
Representatives from the regional planning district and the Muncie-Delaware Metropolitan Planning Organization presented a federally funded Safe Streets for All (SS4A) planning grant and asked commissioners to appoint or designate steering-committee members to guide a regional safety action plan.
Representatives from the Eastern Indiana Regional Planning District and the Muncie-Delaware Metropolitan Planning Organization briefed commissioners Monday on a federally funded Safe Streets for All (SS4A) planning grant and asked for local engagement.
Matthew Nichols, project manager for the SS4A grant, and Kylie Swackhammer, executive director of the Muncie-Delaware Metropolitan Planning Commission, said the grant will produce a regional transportation safety action plan across four counties (Blackford, Delaware, Grant and Jay/Gas? [sic in transcript]) and make the region eligible for implementation funding.
"This will improve safety, reduce serious injuries and deaths and allow communities to seek implementation dollars," Swackhammer said, explaining the SS4A grant under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the remaining federal funds available for implementation awards.
The presenters asked each county to nominate about three to four steering-committee members to collaborate on data review, local priorities and four meetings scheduled between April and December. The grant will fund a planning effort and position local projects to compete for implementation monies; the presenters said DCI has invested $100,000 in local match and administration for the planning grant.
Commissioners expressed support and one commissioner accepted a nomination to serve as a local representative; presenters said additional outreach and online surveys will follow and that both elected officials and the public can participate.
What the grant does
SS4A uses a safe-system approach (aligned with Vision Zero principles) that looks to build redundancy in road and infrastructure safety measures and to focus on human vulnerability and predictable mistakes. The planning grant is intended to identify projects that could later qualify for implementation grants that may cover up to 80% of construction costs.
Next steps
Presenters will circulate surveys, form a steering committee with local representatives and coordinate regional data and project identification so communities can apply for implementation funding when available.
