Register for Upcoming Public Meetings
Southeast Subregion February 24th 5:30PM Register
Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge
Southwest Subregion March 3rd 5:30PM Register
Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturbridge, Webster
North + West Subregion March 10th 5:30PM Register
Barre, Brookfield, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Leicester, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Oakham, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Spencer, Warren, West Boylston, West Brookfield
Northeast + Central Subregion March 17th 5:30PM Register
Berlin, Boylston, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Westborough, Worcester
About
The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) has been awarded a regional planning and demonstration project grant to develop a Regional Vision Zero Action Plan for the 40 communities of the CMRPC Region and to conduct a demonstration project in the City of Worcester through the Federal Safe Street and Roads For All (SS4A) Discretionary Grant Program. The SS4A program is funded by the U.S. DOT under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law / Infrastructure Investment Jobs Act (BIL/IIJA) to subsidize regional initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Vision Zero is a vision to eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. The Vision Zero Action Plan will benefit all 40 cities and towns in the CMRPC Region. Once the Action Plan is developed, communities and projects identified in the plan will automatically qualify to apply for a SS4A Implementation Grant.
What is SS4A?
The SS4A grant program funds initiatives to prevent roadway facilities and serious injuries. It supports the U.S. DOTs National Roadway Safety Strategy and its goal of zero roadway deaths using a Safe System Approach. A comprehensive safety action plan, commonly referred to as an “Action Plan”, is the foundation of the SS4A grant program. The program provides funding for two main types of grants:
Planning and Demonstration Grants
- Used to develop, complete, or supplement an Action Plan.
- Fund supplemental safety planning activities and safety demonstration activities in support of an Action Plan.
Implementation Grants
- Used to implement projects or strategies that are consistent with an existing Action Plan to address roadway safety problems.
- Eligible projects and strategies can be infrastructural, behavioral, and/or operational activities.
- May also include supplemental safety planning and safety demonstration activities to inform an existing Action Plan, and project-level planning, design, and development activities.
- An eligible Action Plan is required to apply for Implementation Grants.
Vision Zero Action Plan Goals for the CMRPC region
- Eliminate traffic fatalities serious injuries by 2050.
Beacon Street Demonstration Project
The Beacon Street demonstration project is a one-year project to calm traffic speed and increase pedestrian safety in partnership with the City of Worcester. his project will test new safety treatments along Beacon Street with the goal of reducing vehicle speeds and making walking safer and more comfortable. The project team will monitor this street for one full year, and report back on the effectiveness of this project and whether this type of project could be replicated elsewhere in the CMRPC region.
To kick off the project design, the City is hosting a community visioning session on Thursday, September 25th at the Central Branch YMCA located at 766 Main Street from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Attendees will learn about the project, share their safety concerns, and vision for Beacon Street.
A second meeting will be held this winter to discuss the draft project design, and a final public meeting will be held in the spring before construction begins. Check back here to find additional materials and information as it becomes available.
Project Timeline
- Public Visioning Session – September 2025
- Project Design: Fall – Winter 2025-2026
- Public Meeting I – Winter 2025
- Public Meeting II – Spring 2026
- Construction – Summer 2026
Regional Vision Zero Action Committee (VZAC)
The VZAC will help to oversee the development of the Regional Vision Zero Action Plan buy providing feedback through the process and helping to act as a plan ambassador in your community. VZAC meeting will be held in a digital format and will be staffed by the CMRPC.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Attend VZAC meetings and share perspectives on transportation safety challenges in the region.
- Help identify potential problem areas and solutions by providing key input and feedback.
- Provide feedback on project deliverables.
- Assist in public engagement.
- Be a supporter and assist in future implementation and tracking progress.
Members
- MassDOT Safe Routes to School Regional Liaison
- MassDOT Safety
- Transit
- CMMPO
- Municipal Planning
- CMMPO Advisory Committee
- Bike
- Public Health
- Fire
- Public Works
- Safety/Police
- Elder Services
