COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Town of Lexington has launched a public survey seeking feedback from residents and commuters about road safety improvements. The survey aims to identify specific areas within town limits that need attention to enhance pedestrian and vehicle safety.
“The lack of sidewalks, the lack of usable sidewalks in the town limits — we have sidewalks, but most lead to a dead end, are uneven, or are narrow and close to the road,” said Matt Porth, a Lexington resident.
For Porth, advocating for safer roads is personal. He has lost multiple friends in fatal roadway accidents and sees this initiative as an opportunity to make a difference.
“We know from data that intersections are some of the worst places," Porth said. "Focusing on high-volume intersections and making roadways clearer — whether for pedestrians or drivers — would be helpful.”
The survey is part of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, established under the Vision Zero initiative funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. Vision Zero seeks to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes on local transportation networks.
Lexington Director of Transportation Randy Edwards explained that the town applied for the SS4A grant and received $200,000 in federal funding with an additional $60,000 local match.
“Traffic data is driven by facts, like recorded crashes,” Edwards said. “But what doesn’t get recorded are near misses — areas where people believe there’s an unsafe condition, even though we don’t have supporting accident data. This survey will help reveal those areas.”
Edwards emphasized the importance of public input in shaping the town’s safety plans.
“This project is just the first step of SS4A,” Edwards said. “The idea is to establish a list of four or five projects that could be eligible for future federal dollars. The goal is to create a plan that positions us for additional funding to address community concerns.”
While the initiative is in its early stages, residents like Porth appreciate the town’s effort to involve the public.
“The Town of Lexington is asking us to give feedback as our town continues to grow,” Porth said. “People are frustrated with traffic all the time. This is an opportunity to make our streets safer and improve the quality of life.”
The survey will remain open for public input until the end of January. Residents and commuters are encouraged to share their thoughts to help shape Lexington’s transportation future.
You can find the survey here.