Columbus Post-Crash Care Project - FY26 Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Application

The City of Columbus is requesting a $3,205,904 award from USDOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program to update public safety infrastructure in the city and surrounding region. Columbus (pop. 905,748 in 2020) is the largest city in Ohio, and the 15th largest city in the country. Census data estimates the entire Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has grown to approximately 2,242,028. The immediate need is to ensure that the Columbus Region’s transportation infrastructure and public safety infrastructure are able to safely and efficiently support our growth across urban and rural communities. The goals of the proposed project are to (1) improve Public Safety Infrastructure in Columbus to best serve the growing Central Ohio region, and (2) apply the most current post-crash care techniques available after serious roadway crashes. The project proposes to achieve these goals by implementing regional Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD-to-CAD) Integration; demonstrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistive technologies for Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS); implementing citywide prehospital whole blood protocols; deploying Glide Scope Systems on all frontline EMS vehicles; developing a regionwide post-crash care plan; and evaluating the performance of crash prevention and post-crash response.

Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations in Central Ohio have historically operated in a highly cooperative manner to maximize the effectiveness of the public safety infrastructure throughout the region. But regional growth is straining current resources. This project is an opportunity to update and expand the public safety infrastructure in Columbus and the surrounding region, and to elevate the level of pre-hospital trauma care that fire and EMS units are able to provide in response to traffic crashes. This project will have a direct impact on improving outcomes for drivers, passengers, and others who are involved in serious crashes. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data show traffic crashes killed 443 people in Columbus, during the 2019-2023 timeframe. Crash data maintained by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) indicates traffic crashes likely seriously injured an additional 2,060 people during the same timeframe. Notably, FARS data shows that only 151 (34%) of people killed by traffic crashes died at the crash scene in Columbus. There is an opportunity to save a significant number of additional lives if EMS units can (1) arrive on-scene more quickly, and (2) leverage new technology and protocols to further elevate the level of pre-hospital trauma care.

This Columbus Post-Crash Care project will provide low-cost, high-impact improvements that will significantly reduce traffic fatalities and improve post-crash care for traffic crash injuries; and it includes three implementation components, two supplemental planning components that will further improve regional efficiency and data analysis, and one demonstration project to pilot the use of AI assistive technology. The implementation, supplemental planning, and demonstration components are essential elements that work together to deliver the three post-crash care strategies outlined in Columbus’ updated Vision Zero Action Plan: (1) Find the crash more quickly, (2) Provide appropriate trauma care more quickly, and (3) Improve post-crash care planning and training for local agencies and staff. The proposed project’s schedule is 36 months for all components. The total project cost is anticipated to be $4,007,380, and Columbus is requesting $3,205,904 in funding from USDOT’s SS4A grant program: $1,360,464 for implementation components, and $1,845,440 for related supplemental planning and demonstration components.