The City of Palm Bay has been awarded a $2.4 million Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to improve pedestrian safety along Emerson Drive. The funding will be used to construct a 6-foot sidewalk along the east side of Emerson Drive, an area near two local schools with significant pedestrian traffic, particularly before and after school hours.

The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO) played a key role in securing this funding, leading the effort by identifying the opportunity and providing essential data from its Vision Zero initiative. Using data from the High Injury Network, identifying target corridors, and incorporating recommendations from the School Routes Analysis, the SCTPO demonstrated the critical need for safety improvements in this area, which helped strengthen the grant application.

The project will include:
-Construction of a 6-foot sidewalk along Emerson Drive
-Installation of a pedestrian hybrid beacon
-Removal of a merge lane to reduce conflict points
-Crosswalks equipped with rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs), have been shown to increase driver yield rates by up to 98%

These enhancements will significantly improve safety for students, pedestrians, and bicyclists in the corridor, which serves two local schools and sees high levels of foot traffic.

Georganna Gillette, SCTPO Executive Director, emphasized the project’s importance: "This SS4A grant is a direct result of our commitment to Vision Zero and ensuring safer streets for everyone. By identifying high-risk areas through our data-driven approach and supporting targeted improvements, we are making a real difference in reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities in Palm Bay."

Mayor Rob Medina of Palm Bay added: "Securing this grant is a huge step forward in our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of our residents, especially our children who walk and bike to school every day. This project underscores Palm Bay's commitment to creating a safer, more pedestrian-friendly community. I want to thank our partners at the Space Coast TPO and the USDOT for their support in making this vision a reality for Emerson Drive and beyond. Together, we are taking important steps to build safer streets for everyone in our community."

This project is part of the city’s broader effort to create safer, more accessible streets and support walkable communities. The grant funding is part of the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which provides local governments with the resources to reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths, particularly in high-risk areas.

For more information about the SS4A program and the awarded projects, read the full article here. Check out the project location map: