Gorge Safety Action Plan

The Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council (RTC) developed the Gorge Safety Action Plan to improve transportation safety and reduce fatal and serious injury crashes across Klickitat and Skamania counties.

No one should lose their life or be seriously injured while traveling on our transportation system. The Gorge Safety Action Plan provides a long-term roadmap for creating a safer transportation network for everyone—whether traveling by car, truck, bicycle, on foot, or by transit.

Developed in partnership with local agencies, stakeholders, and community members, the plan combines crash data, technical analysis, and public input to identify the region's greatest safety challenges and prioritize projects and strategies that can save lives.

Status: ✅ Adopted by the RTC Board of Directors in July 2026

Study Area: Klickitat and Skamania Counties

Funding: U.S. Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Planning Grant

Project Budget: $375,000 ($300,000 federal grant with local match)

Goal: Eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries through data-driven planning, partnerships, and strategic investments.

The Gorge Safety Action Plan establishes a coordinated approach to improving transportation safety throughout the region. The plan will help:

• Understand current safety trends by analyzing crash data and identifying locations and factors that contribute to fatal and serious injury crashes.

• Identify strategies, policies, and priority projects that improve safety for all roadway users.

• Establish performance measures to track progress and guide future investments.

• Position local agencies to pursue federal and state funding for safety improvements.

The adopted plan also strengthens the region's commitment to the Safe System Approach and supports the shared goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Southwest Washington roadways.

The Gorge Safety Action Plan was adopted by the RTC Board of Directors in July 2026 and is available for download.

The Gorge Safety Action Plan was funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The SS4A program provides funding to communities across the country to develop and implement comprehensive strategies that improve roadway safety and reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.

In 2023, RTC was awarded a $300,000 SS4A Planning Grant, bringing the total project budget to $375,000 with the required local match. The project was completed in partnership with the cities and counties of Klickitat and Skamania, with participation from state and regional agencies, Tribal governments, emergency responders, community organizations, and members of the public.

The completed plan provides a strong foundation for future safety investments throughout the Gorge and helps position local agencies to compete for implementation funding. Adoption of the plan has already enabled Skamania County to pursue federal funding for safety improvements along Wind River Highway, demonstrating how planning can lead directly to projects that make travel safer for everyone.

✔ Adopted by the RTC Board of Directors – July 2026

The adoption of the Gorge Safety Action Plan marks an important milestone in the region's commitment to creating a safer transportation system. The plan provides a coordinated framework for future safety investments and positions local communities to pursue implementation funding for projects that reduce fatal and serious injury crashes.