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Safe Streets and Roads for All – Safety Action Plan

The Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County (MPOJC) is working with the communities of Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty, Tiffin, and University Heights to develop a Safety Action Plan. The plan will include recommendations for projects and strategies with a goal to eliminate fatal and serious injury traffic crashes in our metro area.

How are areas prioritized?

The Priority Network is the result of layering many data points, starting with the Injury Network and Risk Network. The Injury Network and Risk Network together identify the most important locations to address for safety purposes and are used as the base for the Priority Network. Additional factors may also be considered, such as distance to schools, parks, and transit; how vulnerable the population is; if the location is already planned for a construction project; and the public comments from prior engagement. Though all these factors may be included in developing the Priority Network, they may have varying levels of influence on the final network. The project team need your help to determine which factors to use in establishing a priority network.

Review the information

Safe System Approach

The goal of a Safety Action Plan is to guide infrastructure and policy changes that eventually result in zero traffic fatalities or serious injuries.

How will this goal be achieved?

The Safety Action Plan will develop recommendations following the Safe System Approach. The Safe System Approach is based on key principles – including that death and serious injury are unacceptable and that humans make mistakes – and elements that focus on road design, speed, vehicle design, human behavior, and post-crash care.

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There are three main types of strategies the Safety Action Plan will recommend.

1 Major Projects

Larger, complex, or more costly infrastructure improvements targeting the Priority Network. These are major investments that belong in a Capital Improvement Plan.

2 Systemic Projects

Smaller, simpler, or lower-cost improvements that can be applied broadly across the transportation system.

3 Policy Strategies

May include enforcement, education, and policies that impact leadership’s decision-making regarding the transportation system.

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Linking Crash Data to Safer Solutions

Let's take a look at how we can use 2020-2024 data from the MPOJC communities to make recommendations about the types of projects that can reduce crashes.

Example 1

We Know: Non-motorists were in only 3% of all crashes but accounted for 37% of fatal and serious injury crashes.

Where: These types of crashes happened primarily at intersections or mid-block crossings.

Why (Contributing Circumstances): Motorist failed to yield, pedestrian/cyclist made an improper crossing.

Potential Solution

Review potential solutions

MAJOR PROJECT: Grade Separated crossing Underpass on American Legion Road near Hoover Elementary in Iowa City.

Developing a grade-separated crossing – where people walk or bike over or under a road, eliminating any conflict with vehicles. This type of solution could be applied to a location on the High Priority Network where a lot of people need to walk or bike across a busy roadway.

SYSTEMIC PROJECT: High Visibility Crosswalks Crosswalks at Cherry and North Dubuque Streets near Penn Elementary in North Liberty.

Making crosswalks more visible with striping, signage, or flashing lights alerts drivers to places where people may be walking across a street. Due to their lower cost and simplicity, these types of improvements can be applied to many crosswalks throughout the urbanized area.

POLICY: Enforcement

A targeted enforcement effort, such as citing drivers who do not yield to people walking or biking in a crosswalk, can improve motorist awareness and compliance.

Linking Crash Data to Safer Solutions

Let's take a look at how we can use 2020-2024 data from the MPOJC communities to make recommendations about the types of projects that can reduce crashes.

Example 2

We Know: Single vehicle crashes are the most common type of crash that leads to a fatal or serious injury to people using all modes – driving, biking, and walking.

Where: More than half of the single-vehicle fatal and serious injury chases happened at an intersection.

Why (Contributing Circumstances): Crashes involving people under the influence, whether walking or driving, are 5 times more likely to result in a fatal or serious injury than crashes involving sober people.

Potential Solution

Review potential solutions

MAJOR PROJECT: Roundabout or Traffic Circle N. Dubuque Street and North Liberty Road, adjacent to Liberty High School.

A roundabout or traffic circle limits conflict points between vehicles and reduces the severity of crashes due to lower speeds and the angle of impact.

SYSTEMIC PROJECT: Traffic Signal Visibility Benton Street and Riverside Drive in Iowa City.

Retroreflective backplates make traffic signals more obvious to people driving.

POLICY: Alternative Transportation Programs

Encouraging the use of ride shares, public transportation, or designated drivers will lower the risk of impaired drivers. Working with local transit agencies to offer extended bus service for special events can enable residents to use the bus rather than drive.

MPOJC is continuing to connect with communities through upcoming events in 2026.

MPOJC will use your input to create the final High Priority Network and identify key projects that will improve transportation safety for all modes.

Stay up to date on project information on the project website. Safe Streets and Roads for All - Safety Action Plan | Iowa City, IA