The Town of Surfside has been awarded $200,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) FY 2025 Planning and Demonstration Grant Program to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan focused on improving roadway safety throughout the Town.
The federally funded planning effort will analyze data, engage the community, and identify prioritized short-, mid- and long-term strategies to reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. The plan will also provide policy and design recommendations to guide future safety improvements across Surfside and its primary corridors.
“This funding allows the Town to take a data-driven, community-focused approach to roadway safety,” said Acting Town Manager Mario A. Diaz. “The Safety Action Plan will help identify meaningful strategies to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers alike.”
While the Town completed a Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Study in 2024 that analyzed speeds, crash patterns and potential traffic-calming measures, Surfside does not yet have a federally recognized Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. This plan is a prerequisite established by the U.S. Department of Transportation for jurisdictions seeking SS4A Implementation Grants, which fund the design and construction of roadway safety improvements.
This SS4A Planning Grant represents a critical step forward. It will build on the 2024 technical study and expand it into a townwide safety and mobility framework that meets federal standards and positions Surfside to compete for future construction funding. The plan will address bicycle and pedestrian connectivity, school access to Bay Harbor Islands, safety for vulnerable road users, regional corridors, and long-term capital improvement priorities. Completion of the plan moves Surfside from identifying safety challenges to becoming eligible for federal dollars to build solutions.
The SS4A grant program supports local governments nationwide in developing comprehensive safety plans that align with national roadway safety goals. The Town’s total project cost is estimated at $250,000 and includes a required local match.
“Big ideas and big projects—such as making State Roads 922 and A1A safer and more welcoming for all users—require outside resources,” said Commissioner Gerardo Vildostegui. “This Planning Grant allows Surfside to take the necessary step to unlock future federal funding and deliver real safety improvements.”
Work on the project will begin following execution of a formal grant agreement with the Federal Highway Administration. Community engagement will be a central component of the planning process, with opportunities for residents and stakeholders to provide input once the project is underway.
For more information, residents are encouraged to follow Town communication channels for future updates.