At the June 17th Abbeville City Council meeting, the City announced it has been awarded a $160,000 planning and design grant through the 2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. This funding will support efforts to improve safety along the Charity Street (LA 14) corridor.

The SS4A program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, provides funding for planning and implementation projects aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries. This grant reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to making local roads safer for all users.

In late 2023, the City of Abbeville entered into a roadway transfer agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD), which included the transfer of ownership of certain state roadways to the City. As part of the agreement, LaDOTD is committed to repairing these roads prior to transferring them to the City. The first phase of the transfer included highways in the downtown area, with road work completed in October 2024.

The full agreement involves the City gradually assuming ownership of a total of 6.8 miles of former state highways, integrating them into the local roadway system over several years. As a proactive step, the City applied for the SS4A grant in early 2024 to focus on Charity Street—an area that has historically faced significant safety concerns and serves as a vital connector within the city.

As the planning process unfolds, the City will provide regular updates and opportunities for public engagement to ensure the final plan reflects community needs.

Key Facts About the Charity Street Corridor:

• 7 fatalities occurred between 2017 and 2021
• The corridor has a normalized fatality rate of 12.5 per 100,000 people
• LaDOTD estimates 3.6 crashes per mile per year
• Approximately 10% of Abbeville households do not own a vehicle
• The City has no formal public transit system

These statistics, combined with extensive community input gathered during the City’s Comprehensive Master Plan process, highlight the need for a safer, more accessible transportation network. The City is utilizing this opportunity to plan and test safety concepts in preparation for future road work—with the goal of building a stronger, more connected Abbeville for all residents and ultimately striving for zero roadway deaths.