2025 5 20 Regular Session Packet 1

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TO:  Dr. Randall Dowling, City Manager 
 
FROM:  Kevin L. Helms, Project Manager 
 
Cc:  Ben Burchfield, Public Works Director 
 
DATE:  May 5, 2025 
 
SUBJECT: Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Implementation Grant 
 
Summary 
The City of Athens utilized an SS4A grant to develop a Traffic Safety Action Plan which was adopted as an 
official policy of the city in March of 2025.  This plan utilized traffic data from 2019 – 2023 along with  
public input provided in 2024 to identify parts of the transportation network with a high rate of crashes 
involving serious injuries and fatalities.  These areas were designated as part of the High Injury Network 
(HIN).   
 
The crash density heat map clearly shows  two intersections with a much higher rate of crashes than the 
others. The intersection with the highest number of crashes (99) is Decatur Pike and Congress Parkway.  
When adjusted for traffic volume  (27,162 TEV), this intersection ranks the fourth highest within the city  
with a crash rate of 2.0.  This intersection is at the confluence of two road segments which were identified 
as the second and fourth highest priority segments.   
 
A set of recommendations intended to reduce or eliminate crashes  were developed for the five highest 
priority location s.  Consequently, this intersection of Congress Parkway and Decatur Pike is a prime 
candidate for an SS4A Implementation grant where recommended safety improvements outlined in the 
Traffic Safety Plan would be fully designed and constructed.  These improvements include: 
• Replace the traffic signal and signal equipment to Improve visibility of the traffic signal 
• Realign left-turn lanes to eliminate negative offset to improve sight lines 
• Improve signal timing and coordination by increasing vehicle storage, increasing turning lane 
capacity, developing a time-of-day plan, and coordinating nearby signals using a fiber connection 
• Add pedestrian crossings 
• Add emergency vehicle signal preemption  to increase the safety of emergency vehicles and 
decrease response times 
 
 
 
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