NEWMAN  — The Newman City Council on Tuesday will consider adopting the city’s first Road Safety Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing fatal and serious‑injury crashes and improving safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.

The proposed plan, funded through a U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant awarded in early 2025, outlines long‑term goals and targeted improvements intended to guide future construction and policy decisions. The $150,000 project was supported by $120,000 in federal funding, with the city contributing a $30,000 match from the Local Transportation Fund.

To develop the plan, the city partnered with Toole Design Group, launching the effort with a community pop‑up event in summer 2025 to introduce the project and gather early feedback. Over the following months, city staff and consultants conducted additional outreach — both in person and online — with materials provided in English and Spanish to broaden participation.

Residents identified several recurring concerns, including speeding, reckless driving, disregard for stop signs, poor lighting and missing sidewalks. Community members also highlighted priority locations where they felt unsafe, such as Highway 33 and Inyo Avenue, Barrington Avenue, T Street, and areas near schools and parks.

A stakeholder task force made up of representatives from Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Police and Fire departments, the Newman‑Crows Landing Unified School District and school bus operator First Student also contributed to the plan, advising on priorities and identifying areas needing improvement.

The Road Safety Action Plan is built around the Safe System Approach, a national framework that acknowledges human error and focuses on reducing the severity of crashes when they occur. The plan outlines five major goals, including reducing fatal and serious‑injury crashes by 50 percent by 2040, lowering vehicle speeds, improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, and promoting a community culture that prioritizes safety.

If adopted, the plan would establish a roadmap for both short‑ and long‑term safety initiatives, clarify agency roles and create a structure for measuring progress over time.

The council will meet Tuesday, March 24, at City Hall.