Welcome to our safe streets for all informational page

The SS4A is a federal grant program run by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) with $5 billion in funding to help local, regional, and Tribal governments prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. It supports the USDOT’s goal of zero roadway fatalities through the Safe System Approach and aligns with the National Roadway Safety Strategy. Two main grant types:

• Planning & Demonstration Grants — fund the development of officialsafety action plans, studies, and pilot projects.
• Implementation Grants — fund actual construction, infrastructure improvements, behavioral programs, and other strategies from an approved safety action plan.

Projects focus on safety for all road users (pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, etc.) and prioritize equitable improvements in underserved communities—official details: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A. 

In the fall of 2024, over 400 residents, business owners & the Friends of Newtown Seniors provided input through an open survey (400 online submissions and 15 handwritten submissions; more information below). 

Requirements of the SS4A grant program include public education, public input, and transparency (click for more information).

VN Engineering was selected as the traffic engineer for the planning portion of this grant, and was funded by an 80/20 match grant received by the Town of Newtown. VN Engineering generated the supporting reports to assist in qualifying for implementation grant(s) (Engineering Reports).

As part of the SS4A Program, in collaboration with the traffic engineering company (VN Engineering), the Walk Audit group conducted a walk audit of some high-profile regions in town in August 2025. These areas were selected based on community input and crash data from the State of CT DOT. 

 In this process, the development of the High Injury Network (HIN), or the mapping of corridors where high numbers of people have been killed and severely injured in traffic crashes, is proving to be a critical Vision Zero tool. This approach is helping town staff focus limited resources on the most problematic areas, while also building greater public and political buy-in for changes.  

The SS4A committee has submitted a request to the Town's legislators to approve a Vision Zero Resolution. A Vision Zero officially declares that the community views zero traffic fatalities and severe injuries on roadways as the only acceptable goal (rejecting the idea that crashes leading to death or serious harm are inevitable "accidents").

A Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (or simply Safety Action Plan) is a required, data-driven strategic document under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. It serves as the foundation for preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a community, region, or Tribal area. 

The plan creates a holistic strategy to eliminate (not merely reduce) serious crashes and deaths for all roadway users—pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and others—aligning with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s goal of zero roadway deaths and the Safe System Approach.

The SS4A Committee has begun using the Safety Action Plan as a roadmap to begin moving forward (Next Steps).