The city is partnering with Travis County on its Safe Streets for All, or SS4A, Safety Action Plan, which is now approaching finalization following a public feedback period that ended March 10. The project seeks to reduce fatalities and serious injuries for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists on local roads through federal grant funding.
The overview
Travis County’s SS4A Safety Action Plan was put forward following the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, according to the project website. The grant program provides $5 billion in competitive funding over five years for regional efforts to reduce roadway crashes and fatalities.
Cities partnering with Travis County for this project, which include West Lake Hills, will be capable of applying for funding for construction projects if the final plan is approved by Travis County. Development of the project began in June with a safety analysis and, following drafting and public feedback phases, is expected to result in a final draft plan in May.
The details
According to an interactive map on the project website, public feedback has been provided to the county suggesting that Westlake Drive, Yaupon Valley Road and Bee Caves Road require improvements in West Lake Hills, with requests relating to road design around curves, speed reduction pavement markings, rumble strips, additional lighting and bicycle lanes as well as crosswalk improvements on Bee Caves Road.
These additions would aim to improve road safety in West Lake Hills, which saw 56 crashes within city limits in 2023 according to the project’s safety dashboard.
The Travis County SS4A Task Force oversees planning and development for this project, consisting of representatives from the county and member cities and villages, as well as officials from the Texas Department of Transportation, the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, CapMetro and the Capital Area Rural Transportation System, according to the project website.
“Our participation in the Safe Streets for all Safety Action Plan has enabled stakeholders throughout the county, especially our residents, to offer input into the conditions that may contribute to deaths and severe injury,” said Trey Fletcher, West Lake Hills city administrator.
The process has already identified a number of solutions to reduce or eliminate traffic fatalities in the region, Fletcher said.
“Prioritizing modes of transportation can be challenging, but we look forward to addressing safety concerns to the benefit of all modes of transportation maintaining the high quality of life our residents expect to enjoy,” Fletcher said.
What’s next?
The final draft plan will be brought to Travis County commissioners in April and, if approved, grant funding for implementation will be applied for in May, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
