The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently voted to accept, budget and appropriate $992,000 in federal grant funds from the United States Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All, or SS4A, program. The grant provides funding for regional, local and tribal initiatives aimed at preventing roadway deaths and serious injuries. 

SS4A is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, or USDOT, and provides funding for planning and infrastructure along with behavioral and operational efforts to prevent death and serious injury for all who use roadways. SS4A includes safety initiatives for pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, personal conveyance, micro-mobility users, motorists and commercial vehicle operators. 

Prince William County applied for the planning grant concurrently with Manassas Park and in coordination with neighboring towns. During the application process, USDOT recommended that the county and the city apply together for a better chance at receiving a grant, which will go toward developing the Comprehensive Traffic Safety Action Plan. The goal of the action plan is to identify future projects that would reduce accidents and help people get around the county roads and byways more safely.   

“The primary objective of this project is to improve safety and mobility across the county and to improve safety in the county by reducing the number of severe accidents, crashes and incidents,” said Prince William County Traffic Safety Engineering Branch Manager Richard Weinmann.  

The Prince William County Department of Transportation will partner with working groups that include police, trails advocates, civic organizations and the Virginia Department of Transportation to develop the plan, which should be completed in calendar year 2024. The department will also welcome feedback during the plan development. People who are interested commenting on the SS4A program should contact Weinmann directly at 703-792-8002. 

Completing the plan positions the county and the city to apply for subsequent grants to implement transportation safety projects.  

“What we’re hoping is that, in a year and a half, we have a list of identified hotspots, projects and mitigation measures that we can implement so that we can go for the next round of funding to help get federal money to implement these programs,” Weinmann said.   

The board also transferred, budgeted and appropriated $218,000 in recordation tax to match its share of the federal funding. The city of Manassas Park contributed $30,000 in matching funds.  

The city wishes to create a Vision Zero Comprehensive Traffic Safety Action Plan, or Vision Zero plan, specific to Manassas Park. The city’s Vision Zero Plan will be a standalone document within the county’s project.