Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
Welcome to the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Review
Thank you for visiting our project page! The Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO) is committed to improving safety across our region, and we need your input to help us achieve this goal. We are excited to share with you the Draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, which is designed to reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries within SEMPO's planning area.
Your feedback is vital in shaping a safer future for all road users—whether you walk, bike, drive, or use public transportation. We invite you to review the draft plan and provide your comments, suggestions, and ideas. Together, we can create a transportation network that prioritizes safety and reduces accidents in our community.
How to Participate:
Review the Draft Plan: Click the Buttons below.
Share Your Comments: Use the Contact section of SEMPO's website. Every comment will be reviewed and considered as we finalize the plan.
Thank you for helping us make our roads safer for everyone. Your voice matters!
— The Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO)
SEMPO Approves and Adopts SS4A Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (1/15/25)
The Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO) is pleased to announce the approval and adoption of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. This plan represents a critical step toward enhancing transportation safety throughout the SEMPO region, focusing on reducing traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. The SS4A plan outlines strategies to improve safety for all road users, including motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians, and emphasizes equitable and sustainable solutions.
The development of this plan was made possible through a partnership with the Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, utilizing a discretionary federal transportation planning grant.
Final Public Open House (10/23/2024)
The Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO) invites the community to an Open House event for the review of the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan aimed at improving roadway safety across our region. This action plan is designed to significantly reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities on our roadways and ensure a safer environment for all who live, work, and travel within the SEMPO planning area.
Event Details:
- Date: October 23, 2024
- Time: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Location: Osage Centre (1625 N Kingshighway St, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701)
During the Open House, community members will have the opportunity to:
- Review the proposed safety strategies and initiatives
- Provide feedback on key elements of the action plan
- Discuss areas of concern and offer suggestions for enhancing roadway safety
Your input is crucial to shaping a safer future for our region. Whether you are a resident, business owner, commuter, or local stakeholder, we encourage you to attend and contribute to the conversation.
Draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Released for Review (10/22/2024)
A copy of the Draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan has been released for review.
Draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
Draft Safety Toolkit Released for Review (8/6/2024)
A copy of the Draft Safety Toolkit has been released for review and comment.
Open Houses Held (1/24/2024)
Wednesday, January 24th 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Jackson Civic Center - North Meeting Room, 381 Deerwood Drive, Jackson
Thursday, January 25th 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Shawnee Park Center - 835 South West End Boulevard, Cape Girardeau
Latest Update (10/04/2023)
Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Project Kickoff Meeting Notes
Latest Update (09/29/2023)
The Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO) has engaged the consulting firm Locumueller Group to assist in developing a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. A kickoff meeting was held on October 3, 2023 with the SEMPO Technical Planning Committee to discuss the project initiation. A project timeline, public engagement efforts, and existing conditions assessment was discussed during the kickoff event. According to the grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan must be complete by December 31, 2024 and adopted by January 1, 2025.
Update (05/15/2023)
SEMPO has successfully reached a grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration to establish a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for the SEMPO planning area. With this agreement in place, SEMPO will collaborate with Planning Committee members to create a Request for Proposal (RFP) to seek professional services for plan development. The anticipated release date for the solicitation is expected to be in July 2023. We will provide further updates as the final draft of the solicitation nears completion.
Update (02/02/2023)
The Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization (SEMPO) is pleased to announce, through a competitive selection process, the planning organization has been selected to receive $160,000 in federal discretionary grant funds through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) initiative authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant funds received will be used to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to serve the SEMPO planning area. The purpose of SS4A grant is to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries through safety action plan development and implementation focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, personal conveyance and micro-mobility users, and commercial vehicle operators. Once completed, the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan will allow SEMPO member entities to apply for Implementation (capital construction) discretionary grant funds through the Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative.
Update (07/21/2022)
SEMPO member entities have teamed up to submit an application to the Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) grant program authorized within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) for the development of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP). The plan will address roadway safety for all users within the SEMPO Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) which includes the City of Cape Girardeau, the City of Jackson, and portions of Cape Girardeau County and Scott County, Missouri, as well as portions of the Village of East Cape Girardeau and Alexander County, Illinois. All applications are due August 19, 2022 with anticipated award date of early 2023.
To address the dramatic rise in traffic deaths and serious injuries, the USDOT is making an ambitious long term goal of reaching zero deaths and serious injuries on the Nation’s highways, roads, and streets. In pursuit of this effort, the USDOT established the “Safe Streets and Roads for All” (SS4A) initiative which is a competitive grant program that will provide 5 billion dollars over the next 5 years to improve traffic safety by supporting local communities in the development of safety action plans, and the implementation of projects which reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on the local road network.
Nationwide, traffic deaths are increasing at an alarming rate, particularly in disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. The Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data reports a total of 48 motor vehicle fatalities from 2016 to 2020 within Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. Portions of the SEMPO Metropolitan Planning Area also resides in Scott County, Missouri and Alexander County, Illinois where the same data sets show Scott County experiencing 33 fatalities from 2016 to 2020 and Alexander County experiencing 10 fatalities from 2016 to 2020. Continued fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways is unacceptable and in many instances preventable. Focusing on roadway safety and the elimination fatal and serious injuries on our roadways is paramount within the goals and objectives established by the Southeast Metropolitan Planning Organization.