Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)
Request for Qualifications

Questions and Answers

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Q. Can I submit this in a different way than USB or email?

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     A. No, please use a USB or email a PDF for submittal

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Q. As there is a substantial number of communities included, the geographical coverage of the communities is fairly broad and the schedule is shorter, can you provide feedback as to ECICOG’s vision for the outreach program? Are you anticipating in-person outreach to each community? A committee in each community?

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     A. The project partners request that at a minimum one in-person input opportunity be held in each region and one virtual opportunity be held in each county. The project partners can assist with meeting room reservations and mailing lists. Planning committees will be organized by county with representatives from the cities within that county.

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Q. Have letters of commitment been discussed with each of the communities on the list?​

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     A. Letters of commitment have not yet been discussed with each community. ECICOG envisions obtaining commitments once outreach activities are determined and as committees are organized. In addition, while the project partners envision that all cities will have the opportunity to participate, and that the data analysis, proposed safety countermeasures, and other plan elements will be completed for all communities, the level of commitment from each community may vary. The project partners will provide formal letters of commitment and resolutions of adoption. It will be up to each community to determine if they will sign letters of commitment. Some may sign commitment letters and pass adoption resolutions (especially those that want to pursue SS4A implementation grants), while others may not. It’s also possible that there may be more grassroots involvement in pursuing grants and projects that don’t necessarily originate with city governments.
 

Q. What interaction/communication of the general work scope, schedule and need for community input has occurred with the target municipalities? Do they know the work will be underway?​

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     A. Communities are aware that the partnering agencies have applied for and received an award to complete the plans. They understand the general scope of work, but specific details of their participation haven’t been discussed.

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Q. Is your anticipated deliverable, one document with sections for each community or individual documents?

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     A. The anticipated deliverable is a separate plan for each participating agency, so three documents– one for ECICOG, one for Region 6, and one for Upper Explorerland.

Communities in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn, and Washington Counties will be addressed within ECICOG’s document. Communities in Hardin, Marshall, Poweshiek, and Tama Counties will be addressed within Region 6’s document. Communities in Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek Counties will be discussed within Upper Explorerland’s document.

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Q. Is GIS mapping of items, such as sidewalks and community trails, available for the communities?​

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     A. The three partnering agencies have GIS data for paved multi-use trails in their respective regions. ECICOG also has GIS sidewalk data available from 2023, noting the availability and general condition of sidewalks in each city within their region.

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Q. What is the primary driver for the June 2026 date for the plan adoption?

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     A. Applications for the FY 2025 SS4A cycle were due on June 26, 2025 and ECICOG is presuming that the FY 2026 cycle will have a similar timeframe. Accordingly, June 2026 has been identified as the plan adoption date so that communities, if interested, will have an approved plan in place thereby making them eligible to apply for FY 2026 implementation funding.

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Q. Have the stakeholders and local community members been identified that will be representing the project areas and providing input to developing the CSAP?

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     A. Communities are aware that the partnering agencies have applied for and received an award to complete the plans. They understand the general scope of work, but specific details of their participation haven’t been discussed. ECICOG envisions identifying representative once outreach activities are determined and as committees are organized.​​​​

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Q. Is there a specific occurrence or challenge that instigated the need to create a multi-regional transportation safety action plan?​

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     A. Through long range transportation plans, each participating region has made a commitment to transportation safety. Previous statewide research has shown that one-half or more of all serious crashes in Iowa occur on city- or county-owned roadways, so developing safety action plans for these local roads is a first step toward that commitment. County Engineers across Iowa are working cooperatively to complete safety action plans for roadways within their respective jurisdictions, but many communities are without a plan. This planning effort is intended to ensure that all local roadways in each respective region are covered by a safety action plan.

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Q. What are the expectations for municipal involvement in the development of the plan?

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     A. The project partners envision that all cities will have the opportunity to participate, and that the data analysis, proposed safety countermeasures, and other plan elements will be completed for all communities, the level of commitment from each community may vary. It will be up to each community to determine if they will sign letters of commitment. Some may sign commitment letters and pass adoption resolutions (especially those that want to pursue SS4A implementation grants), while others may not. It’s also possible that there may be more grassroots involvement in pursuing grants and projects that don’t necessarily originate with city governments.

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Q. What road level is of primary interest for the study?

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     A. The study should cover roadways that are under city jurisdiction. Iowa DOT already has a plan in place to cover state roadways, and county engineers in Iowa are completing safety action plans for roadways under their jurisdiction.

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Q. Is there an anticipated project that you expect to be revealed from the plan?

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     A. The project partners anticipate that the data, safety analysis, and stakeholder input will help to identify projects and priorities.

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Q. Are recreational trails being considered in the study area?

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     A. A complete safety analysis of recreational trails is not required, but the intersection of trails and local roadways should be considered.