Gastonia council adopts Safe Streets plan, commits to Vision Zero and backs SS4A grant for West Side corridors

The Gastonia City Council on May 19 unanimously adopted the city's Safe Streets and Roads for All safety action plan and a Vision Zero leadership commitment, and approved a resolution to support an SS4A implementation grant application covering Franklin Boulevard, Linwood Avenue and West Garrison Boulevard.

Brady Finkley, a consultant with Kimley-Horn who presented the plan, said the safety action plan is the prerequisite for implementation funding under the U.S. Department of Transportation's SS4A program and summarized the city's crash analysis and public engagement. "We identified 198 fatal and serious-injury crashes in the study period and a concentrated high-injury network," Finkley said, adding the plan pairs engineering changes, enforcement and public outreach.

The council also adopted a Vision Zero commitment that sets a phased goal of a 50% reduction in fatal and serious-injury (FSI) crash rate by 2038 and an eventual goal of zero FSI crashes by 2050. "Gastonia envisions a safe, reliable, and connected transportation system that protects all travelers," Finkley read from the proposed resolution before the unanimous vote.

Staff described the SS4A implementation proposal, called "Raise the Flag," as an application targeting 13 high-injury-network locations on the West Side. The package includes corridor access management, reduced-conflict intersections, expanded emergency vehicle preemption at signals, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and an outreach/education line item. The total proposed project cost is about $14.5 million; staff said the expected funding breakdown is roughly 80% federal ($11.6 million) and 20% local match ($2.9 million).

When council members asked about emergency vehicle preemption (EVP) timing and driver experience, a public-safety official explained EVP activation does not instantly flip a green light to red and typically transitions through normal signal phases so drivers approaching the intersection would see a normal sequence. Staff also said the grant's outreach funds could be used for targeted education and safety items, including programs for children in underserved neighborhoods.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gallagher, who presented the transportation committee report, urged use of emerging technology as part of a long-term safety strategy. "Technology will help with this in a big way," Gallagher said during discussion.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the safety action plan, to adopt the Vision Zero resolution and to support submission of the SS4A application. Staff said, if funded, projects would need to be implemented within five years of an FHWA agreement and that typical federal review and agreement timing could place construction and implementation over multiple years.

Votes at a glance: The council unanimously approved the Safe Streets & Roads for All safety action plan; unanimously adopted the Vision Zero leadership commitment (50% reduction by 2038; zero by 2050); and unanimously approved a resolution supporting the SS4A implementation grant application for the "Raise the Flag" corridor package. The council also approved a separate bridge-closure resolution and several consent items during the same meeting.

Next steps: Staff will finalize and submit the SS4A implementation application by the USDOT deadline and, if awarded, return to council for budget and implementation approvals related to the local match and project phasing.