The Columbus Board of Works and Public Safety on Tuesday approved a resolution to improve roadway safety through federal Safe Streets For All (SS4A) grants.
The board is working with American Structurepoint through a $300,000 contract signed earlier this year to create an action plan to make the city eligible to apply for SS4A grants. The Vision Zero resolution, as well as a safety analysis, are components of the action plan. Vision Zero refers to the goal of reducing serious injuries and fatal motor vehicle accidents to zero by 2040. The deadline to complete and submit the action plan and become eligible for grants is November 2025.
The grants received in 2026 will be used to create safer roadways by reevaluating current safety standards, planning and implementing improvement projects which consider cyclists, pedestrians, motorists and public transportation users.
While streets and roadways have traditionally been focused on efficiency, the resolution shifts the focus to safety over efficiency. In 2024, Columbus had four fatal motor vehicle crashes and 54 serious injury crashes, according to City Engineer Andrew Beckort.
“The idea is this: traffic deaths and serious injuries on the road are unacceptable,” Beckort said. “This is implementing a policy aimed to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries.”
