March 18, 2026 -- Safe Streets Lackawanna is a county‑wide action plan aimed at creating a more safe, accessible transportation system for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit riders. Supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program, the plan aims to reduce fatal and severe‑injury crashes by 50% by 2045. This vision reflects the county’s belief that even one life lost on our roadways is too many. The plan identifies where crashes happen most often — particularly along the county’s High Injury Network where more than half of the county’s serious crashes occur — and uses data, engineering best practices and community input to guide strategic safety investments.

The Safe Streets Lackawanna plan was shaped by an extensive community engagement process that included surveys, interactive maps, public events, focus groups and guidance from a multidisciplinary steering committee. Residents consistently emphasized concerns about speeding, unsafe driver behavior, gaps in sidewalks and crossings, poor nighttime visibility, and the need for safer, more connected walking, biking and transit options. In response, the plan integrates the nationally recognized Safe System Approach that uses the “Six Es” -- Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Engagement, Evaluation and Equity -- to ensure a comprehensive and people‑focused safety strategy.

The plan also outlines proven countermeasures and identifies seven priority corridors for near‑term safety improvements. It also establishes a set of implementation strategies, annual performance tracking and measurable benchmarks to ensure accountability over time. Through coordinated action by county leadership, municipalities, state agencies and the public, Safe Streets Lackawanna provides a roadmap toward a safer future for everyone who lives, works or travels in Lackawanna County.

Over the past two years, the Lackawanna County Department of Planning has developed a strategic framework and fostered partnerships to improve safety outcomes. Safe Streets Lackawanna will kick off with educational and informational workshops.

Read the county’s official traffic safety plan here.