~~ Our goal is for no one to be killed or seriously injured on Pinellas County roadways ~~
Pinellas County, FL — October 7, 2025 – Forward Pinellas has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program to update the Safe Streets Pinellas Action Plan. First adopted in 2021 as a countywide roadmap to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries, the Action Plan will undergo an 18-month update to incorporate the latest crash data, refine safety strategies, and explore new tools and technologies to improve roadway safety.
“Safety is not just a transportation issue, it’s a community issue,” said Valerie Brookens, Project Manager for the Safe Streets Pinellas Action Plan. “With this update, we will better understand where crashes occur and anticipate future risks so that everyone can travel more safely in Pinellas County.”
The updated Safe Streets Pinellas Action Plan follows the national Safe System Approach, which emphasizes shared responsibility and multiple layers of protection. Key elements of the update will include:
- A public-facing crash data dashboard to share trends and gather community input.
- Expanded outreach with residents, local governments, law enforcement, hospitals, and first responders.
- Updates to the High Injury Network and development of a new High-Risk Network.
- Deployment of “near-miss” technology to identify and address potential problem areas before crashes occur.
As part of the update, Forward Pinellas will host a series of community workshops starting in Spring 2026 to share project updates and gather input from the public and stakeholders. An interactive online map and survey will also be available for community members to highlight safety concerns and share their experiences.
Previous SS4A projects have helped shape our local cities and serve as models for other Pinellas County communities to improve safety. Forward Pinellas partnered with the City of St. Petersburg to pilot Florida’s first protected intersection along the Pinellas Trail at 1st Avenue S. and 2nd Street S. Launched in 2022, after planning and data collection in 2020, the project added painted corner islands, curb extensions, and green bike lanes to slow turning vehicles and make crossings safer. Results show turning speeds dropped by nearly 25%, near-misses declined, and residents responded positively. View other past projects here.
The Safe Streets Action Plan update will include increased community collaboration, greater awareness, and improved data and strategies to get us one step closer to achieving our vision of zero traffic deaths and fatalities!
Learn more at https://forwardpinellas.org/safestreets/
Questions? Please contact Valerie Brookens, Forward Pinellas Principal Planner, at 727-464-5652 or vbrookens@forwardpinellas.org.
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