The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary grant program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) in 2021. The multi-billion-dollar program was established to fund regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries through planning and implementation efforts.

In 2023, Gallatin County was awarded funding to develop a comprehensive safety action plan (referred to as an “Action Plan”) identifying the most significant roadway safety concerns in the community as well as a set of projects and strategies to address identified safety issues. Action Plans are the foundation of the SS4A grant program. Once a community has an approved Action Plan in place, it is eligible to apply for additional funding to implement the plan’s projects and strategies. Eligible projects and strategies may be infrastructural, behavioral, and/or operational activities.

Under the SS4A program, “supplemental planning” broadly refers to any activity that informs the development of a new or existing Action Plan. Eligible supplemental planning activities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Action plan updates
• Action plan consolidation
• Complementary safety plan development
• Road safety audits
• Equity analysis, including analysis focused on equitable enforcement
• Follow-up data collection and safety analysis
• Progress reporting
• Stakeholder engagement and collaboration
• Roadway safety planning

In the context of the Gallatin County SS4A Action Plan, the supplemental planning effort will involve in-depth analysis of up to five safety emphasis areas. Supplemental planning activities may include detailed crash analyses to understand contributing factors, review of citation data or full crash reports, inventory and review of infrastructure conditions influencing crashes, non-motorist use counts, and/or corridor- or intersection-based safety audits of high-risk areas. The findings and recommendations from the supplemental planning efforts will inform the development of a complementary safety plan, which will be produced as an amendment to the Action Plan.

Deaths and serious injuries on our roadways are not acceptable. Creating safe streets for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and public transportation users, is essential for fostering a healthy and thriving community. This Action Plan signifies a significant step towards identifying and rectifying the safety issues plaguing Gallatin County’s roadways. By prioritizing safety and investing in measures to prevent crashes and injuries, Gallatin County can become a more livable and vibrant place for everyone.

The Action Plan is also a required element to be eligible for future grant funding under the SS4A program. A completed Action Plan qualifies the county to apply for additional grants to fund the implementation of projects and strategies identified in the Action Plan.

The Action Plan seeks to advance equity-centered solutions to address the disproportionate impact of roadway fatalities and serious injuries on disadvantaged communities, including children, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and low-income populations. The planning team will actively collaborate with community partners to identify and implement community-supported education and enforcement strategies. Our goal is to improve roadway safety and promote social equity by ensuring that all residents have equal access to safe transportation options and are protected from harm on our roadways.

Gallatin is the contracting authority for this effort and hired Robert Peccia and Associates (RPA) to help develop the plan. A multidisciplinary group of stakeholders representing various county departments, community leaders, the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), and local safety partners have assembled to serve as the SS4A Task Force to guide the effort. To ensure that the Action Plan fully reflects the region’s needs and values, stakeholders and community members will be encouraged to participate throughout the planning process.

The public is invited to participate in the planning process through public open house events and ongoing information review and input. This website has been developed to provide updates as the plan progresses and offer an opportunity to submit comments for the planning team to consider. Community members are encouraged to submit comments at any time using the comment form on this page, or the interactive commenting map above. Event dates, times, formats, and locations of engagement opportunities will be announced through the local media, our email list, and this website.

Anyone interested in the project is encouraged to join the email list by filling out the “Stay Informed” form on this page to stay informed about plan developments. Gallatin County, RPA, and the rest of the SS4A Task Force will collect and consider all public comments received to better understand the public view of potential safety issues and concerns within the community.