PVPC Releases Draft Plan for Pioneer Valley Safe Streets

SPRINGFIELD — In late June, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) initiated Pioneer Valley Safe Streets in an effort to eliminate roadway-related fatalities and serious injuries throughout the region. Click here to view the draft plan online. Residents and stakeholders are welcome to provide public comment on the draft plan by July 20.

This plan was developed in collaboration with local communities, residents, and state and federal partners, as well as the Pioneer Valley Joint Transportation Committee. The plan’s analysis includes public engagement with in-person and virtual contact, in-depth crash data analysis, a comprehensive review of existing traffic mitigation plans, and additional partner and stakeholder conversations and information exchange. The draft plan also presents an engineering countermeasure toolbox to make advancements in improving roadway safety across the region.

Supported by a U.S. Department of Transportation grant, this initiative identifies critical safety deficiencies and proposes actionable improvements for all transportation modes across local communities. The Pioneer Valley Safe Streets Plan sets a goal to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries to zero by 2050. The Pioneer Valley region experienced 1,427 fatal and serious injury crashes from 2020 to 2024, resulting in 262 fatalities and 1,165 serious injuries.

“This region is home to approximately half a million residents, with communities that encompass diverse neighborhoods, economic conditions, and transportation needs. They are united by a shared reliance on a multimodal roadway network that connects people to jobs, schools, healthcare, and essential services,” said Kimberly Robinson, PVPC executive director. “A strong, safe, reliable transportation network is the very foundation for economic growth, and we know how critical these infrastructure improvements are from our broader economic development in the region.”

Residents and regional stakeholders of the Pioneer Valley can send comments to Gary Roux, director of Transportation Planning at PVPC, at gmroux@pvpc.org.