SS4A Action Plan

Martin County has developed a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Action Plan to prepare for an SS4A Federal grant application. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the new SS4A discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next five years. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

The SS4A program supports the National Roadway Safety Strategy and the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways. This SS4A Action Plan is a requirement for applying to use SS4A funds for design and developmental activities to carry out projects identified in the Action Plan.

The SS4A Action Plan builds from the foundation of the MPO Vision Zero Plan and demonstrates consistency with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation's Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the SS4A Discretionary Grant Opportunity Amendment 1.

Within this Action Plan, the goal of the coordinated set of projects is to achieve fewer traffic fatalities and serious injuries each year on Martin County roadways until the vision of zero fatalities and serious injuries is reached.

Recommendations for these SS4A projects were shaped by a crash data analysis, the best available crash countermeasure evidence, stakeholder interviews, and noteworthy practices identified in the Vision Zero Plan, that all address the traffic safety problems described.

Frequently Asked Questions:

The Board of County Commissioners adopted our Safe Streets for all Action Plan. This will help staff work towards receiving grant funds to add safety features to roadways that have been prioritized based on crash surveillance reports. 

Martin County residents are welcome to submit a letter of support that can be found on this webpage.

Understanding the Flashing Yellow Arrow

Martin County Public Works began installing flashing yellow left-turn arrows at certain roadway intersections in 2019. As these changes are made at the various intersections, electronic message boards will be placed to advise motorists of the change.

Frequently Asked Questions:

A flashing yellow arrow means left turns are permitted, but you must first yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians and then proceed with caution. The flashing yellow arrow does not replace the solid yellow arrow and its meaning.

Drivers should always remember a flashing yellow = turn with caution.

Drivers should stop at the intersection and yield to oncoming traffic. If and when it is safe, make your left turn and proceed through the intersection. When the available time for the flashing yellow arrow ends, the solid yellow left-turn arrow begins.

The solid yellow retains its standard meaning: the left turn signal is about to go to red and they should prepare to stop, or prepare to complete their left turn if they are in the intersection.

Safer: A national study demonstrated drivers had fewer crashes with the flashing yellow left-turn arrow that with the traditional, yielding left-turn indication.

Less delays: Motorists have more opportunities to make a left turn with the flashing yellow left-turn arrow than with the traditional, yielding left-turn indication, which keeps you moving.

More flexible: The new display provides traffic engineers with more options to handle variable traffic volumes.

The solid green light is often misunderstood as a left turn indicator. This is because drivers naturally think "green means go." Traffic making a left turn on a solid green light sometimes does not yield to oncoming traffic, which can result in more crashes.

The flashing yellow arrow allows left turns but at the same time communicates the "caution" message to drivers. The flashing yellow arrow is especially effective at intersections with high volumes of traffic.

Crosswalk Safety

Martin County Public Works department has begun designing and implementing midblock crosswalk features that increase the safety of pedestrians within certain areas in the county.

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections. Look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right.
  • Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
  • Be visible at all times. Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach to make sure you are seen.
  • Pay attention and keep alert at all times. 
  • Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.

  • Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.
  • Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop at the white bar from the crosswalk to allow other vehicles to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
  • Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning at an intersection or entering a crosswalk area.
  • Do not pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There might be people crossing where you can’t see.
  • Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as at nighttime or during bad weather.

  • Stop lines at midblock crossings are important as it ensures that a person crossing the street is visible to the second driver when the first driver is stopped at the stop line.
  • Medians and middle safety islands create a 2-­stage crossing for pedes­trians, which is safer.
  • Flashing crosswalk warning light systems alert drivers to pedestrians in the roadway.

Contact Us

For more information, contact the Martin County Public Works Traffic Division at (772) 288-5466.