Rock Springs Mayor Max Mickelson and the City Council on Dec. 16 approved a comprehensive Rock Springs Safety Action Plan developed with HDR Engineering and funded through the federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant program.

Camille Alexander of HDR presented the plan, summarizing crash data from 2017–2023 (10 fatal crashes, 34 serious-injury crashes, 17 pedestrian crashes, 39 cyclist incidents and more than 1,400 young-driver crashes) and recommending short-, medium- and long-term countermeasures for priority corridors including Elk Street, College Drive, Dewar Drive, Sunset Drive and Gateway Boulevard. "Rock Springs is now SS4A-eligible," Alexander said, describing community engagement efforts and the suite of engineering, education and enforcement strategies in the report.

The plan’s recommendations include high-visibility crosswalks, speed-feedback signs, targeted school-zone enhancements, medians, protected bike facilities and mini-roundabouts at select intersections. Alexander told the council that roundabouts could reduce severe crashes by an estimated 82 percent at some locations and that left-turn treatments at major intersections could reduce certain crashes by about 36 percent.

Councilors raised implementation questions. Councilor Dimas asked how many roundabouts would be needed; Alexander said the plan recommends several locations but does not prescribe a precise count at the planning stage. Councilor Zotti asked whether SS4A funding could be used on higher-speed corridors that are state-maintained, such as Dewar Drive and portions of Elk Street. An unidentified staff speaker noted that work on state highways may require coordination with the Wyoming Department of Transportation (YDOT) and that some projects could need YDOT concurrence or partnership for implementation.

Councilors also pressed for non-infrastructure strategies for young drivers after Alexander said roughly 40 percent of recorded crashes involved younger drivers; HDR recommended education and awareness campaigns through the school system and the city.

After the presentation and Q&A, Councilor Hansen moved to approve Resolution 2025-156, adopting the Rock Springs Safety Action Plan and a stated goal for the City to achieve zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries. The motion passed unanimously.

The adopted resolution as read during the meeting contains a typographical error: the printed text lists the target year as "2000." City staff confirmed the council adopted the Vision Zero goal as presented; the year shown in the printed/resolution language appears to be a clerical mistake and the city did not state a corrected target year on the record during the meeting.

Next steps described by staff include pursuing grant-funded implementation opportunities, prioritizing projects in the plan’s short-term list, and coordinating with regional and state agencies where corridors are under YDOT jurisdiction. The HDR team and city staff said they will work on implementation strategies and pursue reimbursement from federal partners where applicable.

Votes at a glance: Council unanimously approved Resolution 2025-156 (adopt safety plan). Other resolutions approved at the same meeting included Resolution 2025-152 (real estate contract for the First Security Bank building), Resolution 2025-153 (lease with Food Bank of Sweetwater County), Resolution 2025-154 (parks refund/cancellation policy), Resolution 2025-155 (HDR fee-schedule amendment for FHWA reimbursement) and Resolution 2025-157 (budget revision).