Allentown Unveils Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan to Improve Roadway Safety

Posted In: Public Works Mayor's Office

Date: April 02, 2025

The City of Allentown has officially launched its Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

April 2, 2025 – The City of Allentown has officially launched its Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Rooted in the City’s Vision Zero commitment, the plan uses data-driven strategies and community collaboration to improve transportation safety citywide.

“Every person in Allentown deserves to move through our city without fear—whether walking to school, biking to work, or driving to see family,” said Mayor Matt Tuerk. “This plan gives us a clear path to making that vision real. It’s data-informed, written by residents, and shovel-ready. This is how we get to zero roadway fatalities by 2030.”

Between 2019 and 2023, 8,600 crashes occurred in the City of Allentown. During this period, 284 people in Allentown were victims of high-injury crashes—collisions resulting in fatalities or serious injuries. Recognizing that these crashes are preventable, the SS4A Action Plan establishes a framework for safer streets, guided by the Federal Highway Administration’s Safe System Approach and supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

Michael Baker International, Inc., the City’s planning and engineering consultant, led the year-long planning process to shape Allentown’s SS4A Action Plan. Through surveys, public events, and outreach efforts, the City received input from 1,455 respondents. A diverse Steering Committee guided the planning process to ensure these community priorities were reflected in the final plan.

The SS4A Action Plan is also shaped by comprehensive crash data analysis to determine where crashes occur, their most common types, and primary contributing factors. Findings from 2019 to 2023 show that angle, rear-end, and fixed-object crashes account for 75% of all fatal and serious injury collisions in Allentown.

To effectively target high-risk areas, the City developed a High Injury Network (HIN), mapping roads with the highest concentration of severe crashes. This tool will guide project selection and prioritization, ensuring safety measures are implemented where they are needed most.

A prioritization framework has been established to guide decision-making when implementing physical improvements, maximizing impact on safety, accessibility, and overall community benefits. Additionally, a funding glossary is included to help secure financial support for these projects.

The City is also introducing a public-facing Safety Dashboard that provides real-time access to crash data, including metrics on crash frequency, severity, and type to help residents stay informed about roadway safety trends and Vision Zero progress.

The plan also highlights ongoing efforts, including a $384,000 Planning and Demonstration Award for a Traffic Calming/Safety Project to improve pedestrian, cyclist, and driver safety throughout the city.

The SS4A Action Plan project is funded by a $312,000 SS4A grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. With the Action Plan complete, the City is now eligible to compete for SS4A Implementation Grants to secure federal funding for these safety improvements.

For more details and to explore the Safety Dashboard, visit www.allentownpa.gov/ss4a.

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