SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Spearfish City Council is moving forward with a plan to improve street safety for the community. The council ratified a professional services agreement with SRF Consulting on Aug. 4 to develop a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan.
The plan aims to eliminate fatal crashes and significantly reduce severe injury crashes on the city’s street system. Spearfish, a community in the northern Black Hills, was awarded a $160,000 SS4A planning grant in 2023 from the Federal Highway Administration, with the city providing a $40,000 local match.
The city’s Request for Proposals noted a commitment to creating safe streets that prioritize the well-being and mobility of all users. The Safety Action Plan will be used as a guide to invest in initiatives that enhance transportation safety and accessibility. Seven proposals were received, and SRF Consulting was selected based on qualifications, team, and project approach by a committee of elected officials, staff, and community members.
The plan will be created in collaboration with city leadership, a project advisory group, and the community. The goal is to reduce or eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries for all roadway users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, and micromobility users. The plan will promote a culture of safety by applying context-sensitive transportation design standards and incorporating strategies that anticipate human error.
The project timeline anticipates the adoption of the final plan in the first quarter of 2026. This will allow the city to apply for implementation funding through the Federal Highway Administration. Next steps include a kickoff meeting with a project advisory committee, which includes representatives from the school district, city staff, bicycle advocates, and elected officials. A website, pop-up events, focus groups, and a community-wide survey will also be launched to engage the public.
The Safety Action Plan will establish a foundation for a Complete Streets approach to all transportation planning efforts in the South Dakota community. The city is also in the process of developing Engineering Design Standards, expected to be adopted later this year.