Safe Streets 4 All
The Old Colony Planning Council has been awarded a planning grant funding to develop a Regional Vision Zero Action Plan for the seventeen communities of the Old Colony Region through the Federal Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) Discretionary Grant Program. The SS4A program is funded by the U.S. DOT under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law / Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (BIL/IIJA) to subsidize regional initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Vision Zero is a vision to eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. The Vision Zero Action Plan will benefit all 17 cities and towns in the Old Colony Region. Once the Action Plan is developed, communities and projects identified in the Plan will automatically qualify to apply for a SS4A Implementation Grant.
Vision Zero (Safety) Action Plan
In partnership with local, state and federal stakeholders, OCPC, working with its consultant BETA Group, Inc. developed a Vision Zero (Safety) Action Plan and High Injury Network. A Vision Zero Advisory Committee oversaw the development of the Action Plan and provide feedback throughout the process.
The SS4A program supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and our goal of zero roadway deaths.
Improvements for high crash locations were identified under the plan to enhance road safety and drastically lower and eventually eliminate traffic fatalities & serious injuries for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motor vehicles, and public transportation. Additionally, safety policies and strategies were recommended to help reduce fatalities and serious injuries crashes. The comprehensive plan will lead to a safer road network for all our communities and a step closer to our Vision Zero goals.
Major Components of a Vision Zero Action Plan:
- Development of a High-injury crash network
- Identification of strategies, polices and infrastructure improvements to improve safety
- Project prioritization and equity considerations
- Public Outreach
For more information, please see the Old Colony Safe Streets for All Action Plan.
Safe Systems Approach
The purpose of using a Safe Systems approach in Vision Zero Planning is to design and operate our vehicles and infrastructure that anticipates human error and accommodates human injury tolerances to reduce fatal and serious injuries. This is a shift in transportation planning by establishing a human-centered approach and proactively reducing fatalities and serious injuries. The key principles of the approach are:
People Make Mistakes
People Are Vulnerable
Safety Is Proactive
We will adopt a safety culture in adopting a Safe Systems approach for our region. Safety culture can be defined as the shared values, actions, and behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to safety over competing goals and demands. Regular progress can be made by placing safety first and following Safe Systems principles in the daily large and small decisions that confront us.
The final report of the Old Colony Safe Streets for All Action Plan was released on June 26, 2025.
PROJECT TIMELINE
RECORDED WEBINAR
The Old Colony Planning Council and BETA Group, Inc. hosted a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 6:00 PM to present the online Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Interactive Map and Data Dashboard, and welcome public input.
Through this map and dashboard, users can view the top locations that have been identified as high-risk for serious injury and fatalities, share their own location that may have been missed, and share their personal experience with the roadways and intersections in the region. The goal of the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan is to identify high-risk locations and propose countermeasures that can be implemented to prevent serious injuries and eliminate traffic fatalities using the Safe Systems Approach.
