Safe Roads Hattiesburg

Dear Residents,

Safe, accessible and reliable transportation within the City of Hattiesburg is a top priority. Our vision is to reduce the number of severe crashes by 50% by the year 2032 – with the ultimate goal of eliminating all severe crashes in our city limits.

That vision also includes building a transportation system that accommodates all users, including motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair riders and public transit users. We believe in providing equity in transportation infrastructure for all neighborhoods. Finally, we are committed to achieving a safer and more efficient transportation system using data and best practices, both in infrastructure design and traffic enforcement.

As the Mayor and a resident of the City of Hattiesburg, transportation safety within our city stands as a top concern. From 2019-2023, Hattiesburg experienced 17,791 crashes on the roadway network which included 55 fatal crashes and 180 crashes resulting in serious injuries. Of these fatal crashes, 15 involved pedestrians. These tragedies not only affect the families and friends of the victims, but they also have profound impacts throughout our community.

Fatal and serious injury crashes are preventable, and that’s why we commit to improving transportation safety for both residents and visitors. The Safe Roads Hattiesburg/Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan is an important first step toward ending these avoidable deaths and injuries. Through a data-driven, comprehensive and actionable approach, the Safety Action Plan identifies projects and strategies that can improve safety throughout the entire transportation network.

On behalf of the City of Hattiesburg, I support this Safety Action Plan and will do everything within my power to implement projects and strategies included in it.

All the best,

Toby Barker
Mayor

Potential Project Benefits and Goals

• Identifying challenges and solutions to help make roadways in Hattiesburg safer for everyone
• Connecting missing links between existing sidewalk infrastructure
• Identifying roadways eligible for upgrades that help reduce speeds, provide safer pedestrian and bicycle traffic opportunities, and consider on-street parking or transit stops
• Making resources and opportunities equally available to all by using processes that are inclusive and accurately represent the public
• Allowing the City of Hattiesburg to apply for implementation (capital construction) discretionary grant funds through the SS4A initiative