County adopts SS4A safety action plan identifying 29 priority roadway locations

The Iron County Commission unanimously accepted a countywide Safe Streets for All safety action plan after a presentation from consultant Eric Swett and county staff.

The plan, prepared with Kimberly Horn & Associates, identifies a high-risk network of roadway segments and intersections across Iron County. It contains 29 location-specific project sheets with planning-level cost estimates and six scenario-based case studies (pedestrian/school crossings; unsignalized intersections; signalized intersections; skewed approaches; two‑lane high-speed highways; and multi-lane urban corridors) that define repeatable countermeasures for use countywide.

Why it matters: Fatalities and serious injuries on roadway networks nationally remained elevated even as vehicle miles traveled changed during the COVID period; FHWA’s SS4A program funds jurisdictions that prepare data-driven safety action plans and then apply for demonstration or implementation funding. By adopting the plan, Iron County and participating cities become eligible to pursue SS4A demonstration grants (smaller, experimental deployments) and, competitively, the larger implementation grants that fund constructed improvements.

What the plan recommends: County staff and the consultant described countermeasure categories addressing speed management, intersections, roadway departures, and pedestrian and bicycle safety. Examples discussed at the meeting included adding or extending paved shoulders and edge-line striping on rural roads (to reduce single-vehicle roadway-departure crashes), targeted signage and curve warnings, temporary demonstration treatments such as interactive speed feedback signs or flashing intersection warning signs, and enhanced pedestrian crossing treatments near schools. The plan includes an engagement record — online maps, community events and workshops with local jurisdictions — used to identify areas of concern.

Next steps: County staff said the plan will be uploaded to the county website and the regional planning organization dashboard. Staff indicated their intent to pursue SS4A demonstration funding in the current grant window to deploy lower-cost, non‑permanent countermeasures (signage, striping, lighting demonstrations) while preparing competitive applications for implementation funding for larger capital projects. Staff will coordinate with UDOT on improvements that affect state highways; UDOT indicated willingness to support proposed countermeasures though the SS4A grant program intentionally excludes DOTs as primary applicants.

Local context: Commissioners and staff emphasized the advantage of being able to test low-cost solutions (striping, interactive speed signs, temporary intersection lighting) under the planning/demonstration category before bidding full engineering and construction work for permanent changes such as roundabouts. Several commissioners noted that roundabouts at busy intersections elsewhere have reduced high-severity T-bone and head‑on crashes by replacing conflict points.

Public engagement: The plan’s outreach included online mapping where residents could drop pins and leave comments, in-person events at community venues and multiple workshops in Cedar City, Parowan, Enoch and Newcastle to review data and projects.

Implementation risk and funding: Implementation grants are competitive and fund construction; demonstration grants have broader availability and can fund temporary or deployable measures. The county will seek grant matches when applicable; many projects have local match requirements and will require coordination with the county road crews and city partners.

Evidence in transcript: Staff presentation and commissioner discussion, including a formal motion to adopt the plan, are recorded in the meeting minutes.