A Commitment to Safety for All Road Users

The City of Gardner is committed to improving roadway safety for everyone who lives, works, and travels in the community. The City of Gardner is expanding the comprehensive Regional Safety Action Plan (RSAP) developed by the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) and the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) to develop specific data-driven approaches to reduce traffic-related deaths and serious injuries on Gardner s roads.

The City of Gardner was awarded a federal grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The SS4A program supports the U.S. DOT National Roadway Safety Strategy and the goal of zero roadway deaths using a Safe System Approach.

In the most recent five (5) years of data between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2025, there was a total of 2,538 reported crashes, which resulted in 12 fatal injury crashes and 35 serious injury crashes.

Gardner's Safety Action Plan is an important step toward reducing traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by identifying improvements for high crash locations that increase roadway safety for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, and motor vehicles.

Vision Zero & Safe System Approach

The Safety Action Plan is guided by Vision Zero, which recognizes that traffic deaths and serious injuries are preventable, and by the Safe System Approach, which emphasizes designing roadways that anticipate human error and reduce crash severity.

Why is the City of Gardner preparing a Safety Action Plan?

The MRPC RSAP covers 22 communities, focusing on regional corridors and ensuring consistent safety approaches across them. Gardner's Safety Action Plan will be tailored to the City and will focus on specific intersections and neighborhoods, providing a direct, actionable implementation plan.

In the last five (5) years (January 2021 to December 31, 2025), there were 12 fatal injury crashes and 35 serious injury crashes. This Safety Action Plan will build on the RSAP framework and develop a data-driven approach to reduce serious crashes and improve safety for everyone. Using crash data and community feedback, the plan identifies where and why severe crashes occur and recommends practical, implementable solutions. It also positions the City to pursue future federal safety funding and invest in safer, more reliable streets.

Community Engagement

Public participation is essential to the Safety Action Plan. Gardner will engage residents, stakeholders, and partners throughout the planning process to ensure the plan reflects community priorities and addresses safety needs.

Opportunities for input may include public meetings, attendance at Vision Zero Action Committee (VZAC) meetings, and online engagement tools.

Interactive Engagement Map

This Engagement Map allows City of Gardner residents and visitors to share their traffic safety issues and ideas for reducing fatal and serious-injury crashes. This information will help you stay up to date on the ongoing work of the Safety Action Plan.

Zoom in and navigate to a location on the map where you feel unsafe walking, cycling, driving, taking public transit, or experiencing another safety issue. Click Add Marker to drop your marker in the correct category to indicate where you would like to share your issue or idea.

Project Timeline

Stay Involved

Community input is critical to improving roadway safety in the City of Gardner. Project updates and engagement opportunities will be shared as the Safety Action Plan progresses.

Document Library

Download materials

Meeting Materials (will be uploaded after each meeting)

Additional Resources

• SS4A Program https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A
• Safe System Approach https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem
• Comprehensive Regional Safety Action Plan https://www.mrpc.org/safetyactionplan
• VisionZeroNetwork https://visionzeronetwork.org/about/what-is-vision-zero/

Contact Us

Rob Oliva, City Engineer
roliva@gardner-ma.gov

Lisa Juan, Transportation Engineer
Lisa.juan@kimley-horn.com