Safe Streets For All Grant (SS4A) Safety Action Plan Grant
The City of Sanford was awarded a $200,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All Planning Grant from the US DOT. The grant was used to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to prevent roadway fatalities and injuries in our community. The action plan was developed with the Vision-Zero strategy, which aims to, "eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all."
Sanford's Director of Public Works, Matthew Hill, emphasized the grant's significance: "The SS4A grant enables the City to hire a consultant to develop a robust Action Plan. Once completed, we can identify a specific safety concern outlined in the plan and apply for an SS4A Implementation Grant to address it. Additionally, the Safety Action Plan opens doors to other funding opportunities beyond the SS4A program."
Implementation Grants, funded by the federal government, support projects and strategies derived from Safety Action Plans to address roadway safety issues. These projects may include infrastructure upgrades, behavioral campaigns, demonstration projects, and operational improvements. According to the DOT, Implementation Grants prioritize projects that:
- Save lives and reduce roadway fatalities and severe injuries.
- Incorporate equity, engagement, and collaboration in execution.
- Utilize proven practices and strategies.
- Address climate change, sustainability, and economic competitiveness.
Improving Sanford's streets and roads has long been a priority for the City Council and staff. This grant complements Sanford’s ongoing local, regional, and national efforts to enhance infrastructure and revitalize the community.
"One of the City’s key priorities is making our roadways safer and more accessible for all users," said Hill. "Receiving this grant is an essential step toward achieving that goal."
Public Safety Policy Adoption
At the August 20th City Council meeting, the Council unanimously adopted a public safety policy: "The City of Sanford recognizes that even one traffic-related serious injury or fatality is too many. Therefore, given the resources available, the Sanford City Council commits to a goal of reducing or eliminating such incidents for all road users—including pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers—by January 1, 2028, in alignment with the Sanford Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Action Plan. Progress will be guided by the Sanford SS4A Safety Action Plan, with monthly oversight by the Public Safety Subcommittee of the Sanford City Council. These meetings will be open to the public to encourage equitable engagement and active participation from all stakeholders."
Pilot Program to Address Vehicle Speed
One of the key priorities identified in the SS4A Safety Action Plan is managing vehicle operating speeds, a major factor in both perceived and data-driven safety concerns. To address this, the City is preparing a Pilot Program Demonstration Grant application to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which includes the following initiatives:
- Software upgrades for the new ATC signals installed by MaineDOT this year. These upgrades, using the proprietary E-daptive system, will enhance adaptive traffic signal flexibility.
- Midblock sensors to provide advanced traffic volume information, improving signal coordination for “platoons” of vehicles.
- Public education campaign led by the City to inform residents about the benefits of adaptive signals. These systems have demonstrated up to a 12% improvement in traffic flow and increased "arrivals on green" when vehicles comply with speed limits on similar corridors, such as Route 109.
- Enhanced speed enforcement within key corridors, supported by the public awareness campaign
By pursuing these efforts, Sanford aims to create safer, more efficient roadways for all and reinforce its commitment to eliminating traffic-related fatalities and injuries.
Share your roadway safety thoughts!
We want to hear from you! Join us for our upcoming SS4A (Safe Streets for All) community meetings where we'll be presenting the top 10 sections of roadway (see map below) identified as the most unsafe based on crash data from our fire and police departments, as well as public feedback from our survey. If you can't attend the meetings, don't worry! You can still participate by leaving your comments below.
This is your chance to voice your opinions on the safety of our roads. Do you have places in mind that you expected to see on the list but didn't? What knowledge or experiences do you have regarding the areas on our priority list? Do you believe our prioritization aligns with community needs? We're eager to hear your thoughts and ideas!
Just off Bauneg Beg Rd is Chick Rd. Many people on this road walk their dogs.
I walk twice every day. I am definitely not alone.
Chick Road has become a short cut to Lebanon, Berwick & Rochester. Vehicles are flying through - up & back with no concern or regard for anyone walking or kids playing.
I’ve almost been hit a number of times. I push my fog over & I jump out of the way - into the woods. I just watch in disbelief as the car or truck or dump truck just speeds off.
Wondered if there such a thing as a dog walking safety sign? Like Kids playing?
Speed is definitely a factor - I’ve also noticed some drivers are just distracted.
Hoping the town will address the situation before someone gets hurt.
Brook St near Stackpole Ct -- Yet another flipped car last night! How does this happen on a slow residential street? I've seen three accidents in the same spot in the last few years. The only reason I can think of is how the on-street parking makes it into one lane and the on-coming drivers don't always yield (they do have right of way, but sometimes you're already in the bottle neck and have no place to go).
The intersection at Third Alarm Diner, Washington St / Riverside Ave, is really hard to see pedestrians because of the parking right up to the intersection around the diner. I've had people walk right out in front of me from behind a vehicle so that I had to slam on my brakes. If the one space at each corner can't be clear, perhaps add a blinking pedestrian light like in downtown?
To comment on the locations due to be presented, the two things I feel pertaining to the section of Country Club Rd (Route 4) between CC2 and CC3 are that it’s is quite dark at night. Very little street lighting and no obvious procedure for traffic turning into driveways or side streets. The shoulders are fairly wide, so if somehow they can be designed that they operate as a dual shoulder/turning lane, that could be of help.
Unfortunately, Bauneg Beg Road in Sanford has become a speedway used by motorists taking a shortcut from North Berwick to Lebanon/Rochester. We've asked repeatedly for the past decade to erect relatively low speed limit signs. Many of our neighbors who walk this road, including those with children and pets, have had to jump out of the way for oncoming motorists travelling excess speeds of 60 mph plus, particularly during the morning rush hour from 6:00 to 9:00 and the evening rush hour from 4:00-7:00. We and our neighbors have offered for police officers to use our driveways to monitor and apprehend multiple speeders along our quiet mountain road. So far we have seen no action. Our concerns date back over a decade, but the situation continues to worsen.
The half mile of Stanley Rd off 109 in Springvale is a raceway. Construction trucks and other traffic come down the hill greatly exceeding the posted speed limit. At the bottom of the hill is the Veteran's Cemetery entrance/exit. Horns are frequently heard when someone is surprised. Below that driveway is a down-hill corner where there's a blind driveway on one side and an entrance/exit to a busy trail head/fishing spot. Traffic off 109 up the hill is just as treacherous since the corner hill obscures the cemetery entrance/exit. Pedestrians, runners and cyclists have no shoulder to get out of the way of traffic.
From the rotary to Old Mill Road is a speedway. Drivers are constantly running the red light at the Mall for Shopping and at the intersection of Westview Dr. Put a cop in that strip and you'll make enough to fund your own project.
Please add Shaw's Ridge Road/Cottage Street/Grammar Road intersection....a turn signal is needed there. Quite a few accidents (an accident yesterday 2/28).
Rt 4 and School St is “better” with widening and turning lane but really needs a light. Thought that was going to happen.
There is a narrow spot on Old Mill where the road crosses a creek. If there are pedestrians or bikes they are forced into the roadway to cross this area. I know people who will not walk or ride bikes on Old Mill due to that.
A left arrow from the south side of 202 turning left onto Main Street to head to Springvale would be helpful.
I have lived at my residence for over 30 years. I am located @176 Cottage St., Sanford.
I have seen several accidents through the years in the 4-way intersection of Cottage & June. Theirs not to many people that follow the 25 mph in this zone. I find tractor trailers to be a big problem. Most vehicles going by do not adhere to the speed limit. I hold my breath every time I have to cross over from one side of June to the other. My husband (now deceased) use to call the police dept. repeatedly about this dangerous area and he did get some attention about this ongoing problem, but nothing that actually solved the problem long term.
The intersection of Grammar St. & Grammar Rd. can be dangerous. Approaching traffic from the west (Springvale) is difficult to see when vehicles are exceeding the speed limit (often the case).
Grammar St needs a sidewalk from where it meets High St up to July St area. Also a sidewalk on School St from Avon St down to Rushton.
Need speed limit signs on Blanchard rd.
1. Coming up Mill St to Main St Springvale it's hard to see traffic because of parking spots.
2. Parking on both sides of Main St by old district Court in Springvale feels too bottlenecked.
The lower part of circle dr need some serious help. It’s always flooding and freezing in the winter time I think it needs a culvert but I’m not going to tell the experts what it needs just that it needs some attention
Kimball st (from Lebanon st to Twombley) needs a side walk. Freemont St needs to be paved.
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