Matthew Dierdahl of Alta Planning & Design presented the Freeport Forward Safety Action Plan and urged council adoption to make Freeport eligible for federal implementation funding. Dierdahl told the council the plan identified a small share of streets — about 9% — that account for roughly 60% of the city’s severe crashes and listed five priority locations for near-term work, including the Adams, Cherry and Stephenson corridors and the offset Empire and Walnut intersection.

City staff said adoption carries no immediate cost; it is the planning step that allows the city to pursue grants for construction and quick-build safety treatments. Manager Boyer recommended adoption and described next steps including an implementation workshop to assign project champions and pursue IDOT coordination on state-controlled corridors. During council discussion, staff confirmed adoption itself costs the city nothing and that larger projects (for example the Walnut–Empire intersection) could cost millions and would require separate approvals and funding commitments.

Alderman Stacy voted no; the resolution passed 7–1. Council members asked staff to pursue grant opportunities, coordinate with IDOT on safety treatments on state highways through Freeport, and prioritize quick-build projects such as striping and signage at school crossings. The plan includes an online dashboard for tracking crashes and project progress.

The council’s adoption formalizes the city’s safety priorities and authorizes staff to pursue implementation funds that will be brought back to council for individual project approvals.