NORFOLK, Neb. -- Norfolk is setting its sights on a future free from roadway fatalities, as a comprehensive multi-model transportation plan was unveiled to the city council, outlining ambitious goals for enhanced safety and connectivity within city limits and beyond.

Through a grant called the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program, this project will include five different components to encourage safer vehicles, safer speeds, safer roads, safer pedestrians, and help with post crash care. 

The program has a design to mitigate human mistakes and account for injury tolerances, to encourage safer behaviors, and to facilitate safe travel by the most vulnerable users. It will create responsible driving and behavior by people who use roads to help create conditions that prioritize their ability to reach their destination unharmed.

The plan will promote safer speeds in all roadway environments through a combination of thoughtful, equitable, appropriate roadway designs, appropriate speed-limit setting, and outreach campaigns. It will also enhance the survivability of crashes through expedient access to emergency medical care, while creating a safe working environment for vital first responders and preventing secondary crashes through robust traffic incident management practices.

 “There were 2,200 accidents over a five year period in Norfolk, and 57 serious fatalities within the same five years period,” said City of Norfolk Assistant Engineer Anna Allen. “Knowing there have been safety issues here in town, we can help make it safer with a grant from the U.S. DOT called safe streets for all. This will make safety a priority for pedestrians, bicyclists, cars, and everyone in the community.”

The plan advances to the action committee on May 6 for refinement, before its final presentation to the Norfolk City Council on May 19, marking key steps toward realizing a safer transportation network.