The Lexington Area MPO utilizes the Safe Systems Approach as recommended by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Safe Systems Approach is a modern framework that focuses on both human mistakes and human vulnerability and designs a system with many redundancies in place to protect everyone.

In December 2022 Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council adopted a Complete Streets Policy. Through the Complete Streets and Vision Zero initiatives, LFUCG and the MPO are rethinking how our streets function.  These two programs work hand in hand toward a shared goal:  Zero traffic deaths and serious injuries.

 Complete Streets is an approach to designing streets that prioritizes safety, comfort, and access for everyone, not just cars. It ensures that every street project considers people walking, biking, using mobility devices, riding transit, and driving.

• Led by LFUCG, the program focuses on integrating all types of travel into the design of all transportation investments to ensure streets serve all users safely and efficiently.
• The Complete Streets Action Plan guides implementation across departments.

Learn more about Lexington’s Complete Streets Initiative.

The Safety Work Group is a newly formed group that will help the MPO work towards the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by the year 2050. The work group will consist of staff and other stakeholders that have an interest in providing safe streets for all users. Its members will help update and implement the Safety Action Plan for Fayette County. The work group will work to develop recommendations from the plan, such as project recommendations, strategies, and educational efforts.

Upcoming Meetings

Lexington’s Safe Streets initiatives follow the Safe System Approach, focusing on prevention, protection, and creating a safer transportation system for everyone. Our work goals include:

• Redesigning Streets: Upgrading streets, crosswalks, and intersections to improve safety for everyone – especially those walking, biking, or rolling.
• Targeting High-Injury Corridors: Using crash and speed data to identify and prioritize streets with the highest safety risks.
• Piloting Quick-Build Projects: Testing low-cost safety solutions to respond quickly and adapt based on community feedback.
• Aligning Capital Investments: Embedding safety and multimodal design into all city and partner-led infrastructure projects.
•  Engaging the Community: Collaborating with residents through walk audits, surveys, and events to shape safer streets.
• Managing Speeds: Slowing traffic where it matters most using design, traffic calming, and school zone strategies.

We’re actively working on projects that demonstrate Complete Streets and Vision Zero principles in action. More projects will continue to be developed and will be updated here.

Lexington’s Safe Streets work is built on collaboration. These efforts support and strengthen our shared goals of safety, equity, and livability:

• Long-Range Transportation Plan (MPO): A regional planning framework that aligns funding with safety, mobility, and community goals.
• Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program: Partnering with residents to address speeding and unsafe conditions on local streets.
• StrEEEts Safety Task Force: A council led task force with a cross-departmental team addressing roadway safety issues through education, enforcement, and engineering.
• Town Branch Commons: An award-winning transformative public space and trail network that puts Complete Streets principles into practice.
• Lextran Transit Initiatives: Improving access, comfort, and equity for transit riders through stop upgrades and network planning.
• Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee: BPAC advises the Lexington Area MPO on policies, plans, and projects that support safe, accessible walking and biking throughout the region.

For questions, feedback, or to get involved:

Complete Streets Coordinator:

Brandi Peacher, Office of the Mayor

Vision Zero Coordinator:

Mikaela Gerry, Lexington Area MPO