Introduction to the Safe Streets Action Plan
The Sandusky City Commission recently took a significant step towards enhancing road safety by adopting the city’s first Safe Streets Action Plan. This initiative aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries in Sandusky by 2050, marking a crucial milestone in the city’s commitment to public safety.
Funding and Development of the Plan
The plan was officially adopted on September 22 and was made possible through a $200,000 U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets for All (SS4A) federal planning grant awarded in 2022. This funding was matched with an additional $50,000 from local sources, as stated in the release.
Developed in collaboration with WSP, a nationally recognized engineering firm, the plan was informed by extensive crash data analysis and community input. It outlines strategies, policies, and projects aimed at making Sandusky’s streets safer for all users, whether they are driving, biking, or walking.
Community Input and Expertise
Aaron Klein, Sandusky’s director of Public Works, emphasized the importance of the plan in providing a framework for informed decision-making. He noted that the plan was shaped by feedback from residents about where they feel unsafe and what improvements they want to see.
“It identifies quick projects we can implement right away, while also guiding the larger, long-term improvements that will take more time and resources,” Klein said.
Crash Statistics and Risk Factors
Between 2014 and 2023, Sandusky recorded 128 serious or fatal crashes, averaging 13 per year. While crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists are relatively few in number, they account for a high percentage of severe outcomes.
The Safe Streets Action Plan outlines countermeasures to address these risks, including safer intersections, traffic calming measures, and improved pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
Securing Additional Funding
The adoption of the plan positions the city to continue securing federal and state funding for implementation. At the end of 2024, Sandusky received $600,000 in demonstration funding through the Safe Streets for All program, with a $150,000 local match. These funds will support the next steps identified in the plan, including a Speed Management Pilot Program, Complete Streets Guidelines, and an Equity Assessment.
Data-Driven Project Prioritization
A key component of the plan is a data-driven project prioritization framework. Using benefit-to-cost analysis, the city will rank projects based on their ability to reduce crashes and deliver the greatest community value.
Phased Implementation Strategy
The plan lays out a phased implementation strategy:
- Short term, within two years– Quick-build demonstration projects, such as temporary traffic calming measures or improved crosswalks, that can be piloted with existing resources.
- Near term, three to five years– Smaller projects supported through local and state funding, such as ODOT safety programs and Safe Routes to School.
- Long term, more than five years– Larger projects requiring outside coordination, additional design or right-of-way acquisition, such as major roadway redesigns or permanent reconfigurations.
These phased efforts will allow the city to act immediately on urgent safety needs while preparing for more complex, long-term infrastructure changes.
Community Engagement and Collaboration
The Safe Streets Action Plan was developed through collaboration across city departments and engagement with more than 400 residents through surveys, open houses, and outreach events.
For more information and to view the full Safe Streets Action Plan, visit www.cityofsandusky.com/safestreets.
