Project Overview
Currently, Newberry County oversees the maintenance of over 324 miles of roads and more than 20 bridges across the County’s towns, and unincorporated areas. Between 2020 and 2024 the county experienced 54 fatal crashes, with 7 of those fatalities being pedestrians. Furthermore, 69% of crashes occurred on roads classified as rural non-interstate roadways, highlighting the need for rural road safety improvements for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. The number of pedestrian deaths highlights the need for sidewalks, biking trails, safe routes to schools, and ADA-accessible pathways in the county.
To address these issues, Newberry County has been awarded a Safe Streets for All grant to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. This plan aims to prioritize traffic safety and establish a framework for projects designed to achieve zero deaths by 2045. The county is committed to engaging the community, stakeholders, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) in developing a data-driven plan that considers the most vulnerable populations and enhances the safety and resilience of the transportation network.
What Is A Safety Action Plan?
The Safety Action Plan (SAP) is Newberry County’s comprehensive vision to create a safe, accessible, and equitable experience for traveling in and around Newberry County. The goal of this plan is to prioritize and justify the investment of safety improvements that prevent injuries and save lives along our public roadways. The SAP’s development is supported by the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) initiative which is a grant program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Once complete, this Safety Action Plan will allow Newberry County to apply for implementation grant funding to implement the plan through SS4A.
By using the Federal Highway Administration’s “Safe System Approach” to roadway safety to achieve Vision Zero – Zero deaths on our roadways, the Safety Action Plan (SAP) will identify the most significant roadway safety concerns in Newberry County and strategies to address safety issues aimed at reducing and eliminating serious injury and fatal crashes affecting all roadway users. Whether you walk, bike, drive, or ride transit, we need your feedback.
What Will The Safety Action Plan Do?
Newberry County is creating a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (SAP) to make everyday travel safer and more comfortable for everyone—whether you walk, bike, drive, take transit, or use mobility aids. Funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, this plan will:
- Analyze crash data and community input to identify safety concerns and high-risk locations
- Develop equitable, data driven strategies to improve safety for all road users
- Recommend proven safety improvements such as safer crossings, traffic calming, improved lighting, and better access to schools, neighborhoods, and businesses
- Align with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and the goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries using a Safe Systems Approach
- Help the county target high need locations and compete for federal dollars to build the most important safety projects.
About the Safe Streets for All program
The USDOT’s Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program was established through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) as a discretionary program with appropriated funds over 5 years, 2022-2026. It funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The SS4A program supports the USDOT National Roadway Safety Strategy and the goal of zero roadway deaths using a Safe System Approach.
https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A
Working Together for Safe Streets
The City of Newberry has also been awarded a Safe Streets for All grant. City and County staff—along with the consultants supporting each effort—are coordinating to align goals, share data, and deliver a safer transportation future for all Newberry County residents.
Interactive Mapping Tool
The map shows crash history within Newberry County and you can add comments on the map for areas of concern or locations where you have an idea to improve safety.