The Quad Cities MPO has participated in traffic safety planning since its inception in 1966. Intersection crash reports have been prepared with the most recent specific to intersection in 2013. In 2020 the first Quad Cities Traffic Safety Plan was produced. It examined overall crashes as well as intersections and crash emphasis areas where data illustrated trends and hot spots for fatal and serious injury crashes. The MPO staff a Community Awareness of Roadway Safety (CARS) group in Scott County comprised of planners, engineers, public safety officials, law enforcement and representatives from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT).
It was established in partnership with the Iowa Governors’ Traffic Safety
Bureau more than two decades ago to work on reduction of crashes, coordination of enforcement activity, and sharing of data and information to raise awareness of crash prevention or mitigation. Annually, the MPO brings together a joint group from the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities to discuss traffic safety issues and coordination.
Traffic Safety Action Plan – Toward Vision Zero
Bi-State Regional Commission (BSRC) was awarded a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant for planning in 2023 from the US Department of Transportation to complete a traffic safety action plan for Quad Cities-Iowa/Illinois, Muscatine, Iowa and Kewanee, Illinois. The USDOT SS4A program emphasizes that one death on our roadways is one too many, and the vision is to reduce this to zero, Vision Zero. The project goal is to develop a comprehensive traffic safety action plan for the three geographies to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries, and to identify the beneficial projects or solutions toward safer streets for everyone. Through a consultant-led process, the Project Study Partners will include collaborating with Quad Cities MPO staff and Transportation Technical Committee and with city staff from Muscatine, and Kewanee to oversee the Traffic Safety Action Plan process. Public involvement will part of the plan development process.
This plan will serve as a framework to guide future infrastructure design. This website page will be updated regularly and will serve as a timely, comprehensive resource for information regarding the development of the TTSAP. The Project Team will provide information and materials for the public through this website page, as well as solicit feedback and comments from residents, business owners, and stakeholders of the greater Quad Cities region.
These local government partners and the BSRC have selected a reputable, well-established engineering firm to develop the TSAP. Kaskaskia Engineering Group, LLC (KEG) will be leading all efforts associated with the TSAP in cooperation with BSRC staff and the local government partners. KEG specializes in traffic and safety engineering and design and is supported by a multidisciplinary team to provide a comprehensive, well-rounded TSAP. They will be the main contact for the project and are able to assist with questions or concerns as the project progresses.
What is a TSAP? According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a Traffic Safety Action Plan, or TSAP, is a “powerful way to prioritize safety improvements and justify investment decisions.” In short – it is a plan put in place to get people home safely. Safe streets really can be for everyone, and establishing an TSAP can be a positive move forward toward a goal of zero deaths from roadway incidents.
A formal TSAP has many benefits, including:
- Provide valuable data and analyses as to causes of roadway fatalities and serious injuries
- Establish proven safety measures to implement in your region
- Serve as a guide to local and safe infrastructure solutions
- Initiate productive, open lines of communication between stakeholders and transportation agencies
- Open possible future funding opportunities for infrastructure improvements
TSAP Project Overview & History. From 2019 to 2021, roadway fatalities increased 17.4% nationally and 32.1% in Illinois. In 2019, Iowa’s total roadway crashes decreased 5%, yet fatal crashes increased by almost 8% in that same year.
As part of a regional approach to improve transportation safety, the BSRC submitted and was awarded a Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant from the US Department of Transportation to complete a Safety Action Plan (TSAP) for the Quad Cities, Illinois/Iowa; Muscatine, Iowa; and Kewanee, Illinois. In addition, the project has received support from the Quad Cities Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Transportation Technical Committee and from city personnel from Muscatine and Kewanee.
What is Safe Streets for All? The Safe Streets for All (SS4A) discretionary program was established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2022.
The SS4A program is allocated $5 billion to support regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The program supports the goal of zero roadway deaths using the Safety System Approach, which incorporates the following principles:
- Death and Serious Injuries are Unacceptable – A Safe System Approach prioritizes the elimination of crashes that result in death and serious injuries.
- Humans Make Mistakes – People will inevitably make mistakes and decisions that can lead or contribute to crashes, but the transportation system can be designed and operated to accommodate certain types and levels of human mistakes, and avoid death and serious injuries when a crash occurs.
- Humans Are Vulnerable – Human bodies have physical limits for tolerating crash forces before death or serious injury occurs; therefore, it is critical to design and operate a transportation system that is human-centric and accommodates physical human vulnerabilities.
- Responsibility is Shared – All stakeholders—including government at all levels, industry, non-profit/advocacy, researchers, and the general public—are vital to preventing fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways.
- Safety is Proactive – Proactive tools should be used to identify and address safety issues in the transportation system, rather than waiting for crashes to occur and reacting afterwards.
- Redundancy is Crucial – Reducing risks requires that all parts of the transportation system be strengthened, so that if one part fails, the other parts still protect people.