West Columbia City Council unanimously approved AECOM, a Columbia-based engineering consultant, to lead the development of a City of West Columbia Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) action plan.

The city administrator will enter contract negotiations with AECOM in the upcoming weeks. 

The Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program aims to improve roadway safety by reducing and eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries. 

Katherine Call, director of community development for the city, said this safety action plan will identify improvements to transportation for all users, including motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

The action plan focuses on leadership commitment and goal setting, planning structure, safety analysis, engagement and collaboration, policy and process changes, strategy and project selections, and progress and transparency.

Additionally, this action plan uses data analysis to characterize roadway safety problems and improve a community’s approach through projects and strategies that address the most significant risks. 

“Once we confirm with a consulting firm, we will work with them and they’ll meet with various stakeholders within the community at the city level, and there will also be a public input component,” Call said. “We’ll make sure we have some target areas based on council priorities and we’ll have the engineers look to remedy some of our congestion and concern areas.”

Two firms responded to the request for quotation, or RFQ: AECOM and Mead and Hunt. Call told board members that a grading committee evaluated the two firms based on the qualifications and experience of the firm and key personnel, their understanding of the project and federal grant requirements, proposed approach, methodology and timeline, and references and past performance.

Both firms additionally provided proposals for the engineering and planning services for the action plan.

Call said the grading committee ranked AECOM number one and ranked Mead and Hunt number two. 

AECOM is a team of advisors, planners, designers, engineers, construction managers and more. Their services span cities, transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment.

Created in 1990, AECOM was ranked number one in water, transportation, general building and international markets by Engineering News-Record in 2024.

Communities that apply may receive one of two types of grants. Planning and demonstration grants provide federal funds to help develop, complete or supplement an action plan. The implementation grant provides federal funds to implement projects and strategies identified in the action plan. 

The next regular council meeting will be on June 3, beginning at 6 p.m. at City Hall, located at 200 North 12th St. in West Columbia.