Etowah County and Area Cities Awarded Federal Grant to Develop Roadway Safety Action Plan
Etowah County— Etowah County, in partnership with the cities of Rainbow City, Attalla, Glencoe, Hokes Bluff and Southside, has been awarded a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant to develop a comprehensive Safety Action Plan aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries on local roadways.
The grant is part of the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, a discretionary initiative established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and supports surface transportation projects designed to enhance roadway safety nationwide.
The SS4A program seeks to dramatically reduce — and ultimately eliminate — roadway fatalities and serious injuries. It promotes the development and implementation of data-driven Safety Action Plans that prioritize protection for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, motorists and commercial drivers. The initiative emphasizes collaboration among local governments and community stakeholders to create safer transportation systems.
According to crash data from 2020 to 2024, Etowah County recorded 13,894 total crashes. Those included 84 fatal crashes, 471 suspected serious injury crashes, 1,079 non-incapacitating injury crashes, 1,248 possible injury crashes and 10,673 property-damage-only crashes. An additional 339 crashes were reported with unknown severity. Local officials say the data underscores the urgent need for a coordinated safety strategy.
SS4A funding enables communities — whether urban, rural, Tribal or regional — to develop tools and strategies tailored to their unique needs. The program is structured to support jurisdictions of all sizes and levels of experience with federal funding, helping them take meaningful steps toward saving lives and improving roadway safety.
Residents can learn more about the initiative and follow the plan’s development by visiting:
