Decatur Safe Streets Safety Action Plan

Decatur Safe Streets logo, featuring a vehicle, pedestrian, wheelchair user, and cyclist.
The Decatur Safe Streets Safety Action Plan was developed through a community-based process beginning in June 2024. The plan identifies strategies to improve safety for all roadway users and puts Decatur on the path toward Vision Zero—eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

View the Safe Streets Safety Action Plan (PDF)

Explore the Safety Data Dashboard below

About the Safety Action Plan

The Decatur Safe Streets Safety Action Plan advances the City’s vision of “safer and more affordable ways for getting around – for more people, more of the time." The plan addresses the safety needs of all roadway users through data analysis, policy review, and extensive community input.

Between 2018 and 2022 (the most recent five-year crash reporting period), Decatur reported six crashes that resulted in at least one fatality and 44 crashes that resulted in at least one serious injury. There were no fatal crashes in 2019 and 2020. The Vision Zero standard—an international movement to eliminate traffic fatalities—aims for zero traffic deaths in consecutive years. The Safety Action Plan positions Decatur on a path toward Vision Zero and five or more consecutive years without fatalities.

Community Input & Engagement

The Safety Action Plan was developed through a community-based process from summer 2024 to early 2025. Engagement included:

  • Community Kickoff Meeting (August 2024): Introduced the plan’s purpose and gathered initial input.

  • Truckin’ Tuesday Pop-Up (September 2024): Raised awareness and collected feedback at Legacy Park.

  • Community Input Map (Summer–Fall 2024): Allowed residents to share safety concerns and best practices.

  • Final Community Meeting (January 2025): Shared draft strategies informed by community input and crash data.

  • Safety Working Group Meetings: Brought together residents, advocates, and city staff for focused discussions.

This collaborative process helped shape a plan that reflects both data-driven analysis and local experience.

Learn More

There are six principles that form the basis of the Safe System approach: deaths and serious injuries are unacceptable, humans make mistakes, humans are vulnerable, responsibility is shared, safety is proactive, and redundancy is crucial. There are also five Safe System elements that, together, create a holistic approach: safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care.

The U.S. Department of Transportation funded the Safety Action Plan through its Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. SS4A Planning & Demonstration grants support communities across the country in developing comprehensive approaches to reducing and eliminating fatal and serious injury crashes.

With the plan now finalized, Decatur is eligible to pursue implementation funding through the SS4A program to put these safety strategies into action.

Decatur's Related Initiatives

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