Latest news with #SafeStreetsandRoadsforAll
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Y-S goal: Eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on roads
'Unacceptably high rates' With a goal to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on local roads by 2050, the Regional Safety Action Plan (RSAP) was presented to the Yuba County Board of Supervisors at Tuesday's board meeting. Taking six years of data from the California Highway Patrol and local law enforcement, combined with information from a 'robust community engagement process,' officials have partnered with Sutter County, Marysville, Live Oak, Yuba City and Wheatland to develop a comprehensive action plan that 'addresses the unacceptably high rates of motor vehicle fatalities in the region.' 'Yuba County ranked eleventh out of the fifty-eight counties in California in terms of the number of collisions resulting in fatalities or severe injuries. Sutter County was right behind it at number thirteen out of the fifty-eight counties,' said retired Yuba County public works director Dan Peterson, who is acting as facilitator between the six entities for this project. 'The intent is to develop this clear, comprehensive safety plan that allows us to identify safety corridors where we need to address safety issues, and also help guide the selection of the safety countermeasures that we incorporate into our projects.' The project originated with the creation of the U.S. Department of Transportation's 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. SS4A funds regional, local and tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries, with $5 billion in appropriated funds for 2022-2026. According to staff, the total budget for development of the Yuba-Sutter RSAP was $1 million, with $800,000 provided from an SS4A grant. The remaining $200,000 is shared by the participating counties and cities. Continued grant eligibility is a major driving factor behind creating the RSAP. 'This Regional Safety Action Plan positions us so we can continue to go after future grants,' Peterson said. 'For example, Yuba County will be submitting a grant application on June 26 to implement safety countermeasures…based on the findings of this Regional Safety Action Plan.' Safety measures were identified through the aforementioned gathered data from 2018-2023. The data used for the RSAP only includes collisions involving a serious or minor injury and/or fatality, said Adrian Engel, principal of the transportation planning and engineering firm Fehr & Peers. Engel said that in the six-year time frame, the number of injury collisions has remained pretty consistent at just under 1,000 each year across the region. About 150 serious injuries or deaths occur each year from traffic collisions in the region as well. The data revealed that broadside collisions are the primary cause of local serious injury or fatality collisions, with rear-ending also being common, especially on highways going into the cities. Unsafe speeding, improper turning, driving under the influence and pedestrian violations were also found to be frequent factors for traffic collision fatalities or injuries in Yuba County. The data was combined with information collected through community engagement. 'We created a safety task force composed of agency staff and public works, local law enforcement, the school district and local advocates,' Engel said. 'We met a handful of times to discuss the issues and use it as a steering committee for greater community engagement.' They also conducted four public listening sessions in Yuba City, Live Oak and Wheatland, and created a website where people could report locations where they experience roadway troubles. 'We like to get out into the community to understand maybe places they're avoiding that aren't showing up in the data,' Engel said. The team then identified several priority corridors in Yuba County for road safety improvements: North Beale Road/Lindhurst Avenue from Highway 70 ramps to Erle Road Forty Mile Road from Rancho Road to Plumas Arboga Road Grove Avenue from Hammonton-Smartsville Road to Shoreline Drive Hammonton-Smartsville Road from Simpson Lane to Avondale Avenue McGowan Parkway from the railroad tracks to Powerline Road Olivehurst Avenue from the Powerline/Chestnut roundabout to Lindhurst Avenue Plumas Arboga Road from Highway 70 to Forty Mile Road Simpson Lane from East 10th Street to Hammonton-Smartsville Road Highway 65 from the Highway 70 divide to Olive Avenue Highway 70 from Yuba River to Seventh Avenue Countermeasures implemented will be based on each corridor's specific issues and needs. 'The plan will start to address these issues at a high level, as well as identifying some corridors at a more specific level,' Engel said. 'Many of the countermeasures that we're looking at in terms of the toolbox will look at changing signal timing, increasing the all-red phase and adding dilemma zone detection.' Signs, road striping, public education and more are included in the RSAP as well, added Peterson. North Beale Road is set to be the first for improvements. Engel said the other corridors will be addressed as they finalize the plan and secure grant funding. 'The safety planning work for all six agencies is happening concurrently,' Engel said. 'We will have a draft plan for the entire region in the fall.' Staff will present the RSAP to the board again at the next meeting with a recommendation to adopt it. 'We acknowledge that this is going to be a long-term effort, but it's definitely going to be of value when we go through and prioritize projects and actually scope those projects to incorporate safety countermeasures in the future,' Peterson said.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
County identifies top crash areas in new plan to eliminate fatalities
After researching transportation trends for the past eight months, the Crawford County Planning Office's new initiative puts the county on the fast track for better safety. Its goal is to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on county roadways by 2035. Between 2019 and 2023, the county experienced 3,675 crashes on non-interstate roads with 220 incidents resulting in fatal or serious injuries, according to planning office data. The driving force behind the goal came from the county's current comprehensive plan, adopted in 2024, known as Crawford Inspired. To improve public health and quality of life in the area, the plan engaged various stakeholders and community members. Residents reported improved pedestrian, biking and road safety as a necessity. Now, the Safety Action Plan (SAP) provides a comprehensive strategy to enhance safety by identifying systemic safety challenges and 10 high-risk areas in the county. Then, it can establish clear implementation strategies. Crash data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) revealed that 82 percent of severe crashes in the county occurred on just 16 percent of roadways and interstates, leading to a much more location-focused plan of attack. By identifying the top crash locations — like State Route 18 in Conneaut Lake and State Route 27 in Titusville — the county can develop targeted countermeasures. Data also showed that speeding and alcohol impairment while driving were among the highest factors of severe crashes, and one group — motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and horse and buggies — were significantly overrepresented in severe crashes. That data will inform decisions down the road. 'We had a steering committee of 13 individuals including the townships association, boroughs association, CATA [Crawford Area Transportation Authority], folks from PennDOT, Ernst Trail group, the two cities had representation on it and this would allow us to move forward with unlocking some state and federal funding as well as addressing 10 of the most serious/fatal accident locations in Crawford County,' Planning Office Director Zachary Norwood explained to Crawford County commissioners during a work session Wednesday. Norwood told The Meadville Tribune that the plan is catered to adhere to the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. Established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, SS4A must appropriate $5 billion from 2022 to 2026 for regional and local initiatives that prevent roadway fatalities and injuries. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's website, $2 billion of that money remains up for grabs. 'We crafted a plan in alignment with that program to address the concerns and issues we are facing,' Norwood said, noting that there are state programs that they will be eligible for, too. 'We did a plan that will tackle lots of funding streams and give us the tools we need to be successful.' The road to success begins Wednesday as commissioners vote to adopt the plan and its goal. Then, the county will form an SAP coalition, invest in policy reforms and transportation planning, advance engineering projects, launch and support education and enforcement, and build capacity to implement the SAP through staffing and ensure accountability.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell City Council to decide on pursuing grant for Main Street redesign
Jun. 2—Kalispell City Council on Monday is expected to decide whether to apply for a federal grant to reconfigure Main Street. Council meets June 2 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. The Main Street Safety Action Plan, adopted by Council last summer, identified high-risk intersections and streets downtown. Main Street, First Avenue East and First Avenue West were prioritized to receive an array of traffic safety upgrades. The three thoroughfares saw a combined 379 crashes between 2018 and 2022, and traffic has grown dramatically in part because of increased tourism and population growth in the Flathead Valley, according to the resolution to apply for the grant. But aspects of the plan have sparked heated debate among residents and business owners, predominantly its proposal to slim down Main Street to lanes in either direction separated by a dedicated left-turn lane. The space freed up by the loss of pavement would be used for wider sidewalks spanning up to 10 feet. Parallel parking access would remain along the downtown strip. Council invited the community to a May 19 public hearing regarding the project. There, community members expressed concern over the potential for traffic congestion caused by the lane reduction to spill onto surrounding roads. Others warned that fewer lanes would do little to quell reckless driving, whereas tougher traffic enforcement might curb poor behavior. According to a city study, the reduction would delay traffic by 30 to 60 seconds. The delay is projected to increase to between 60 and 90 seconds by 2045. Supporters of the project argued that the wider sidewalks and reduced lanes would generate more business for downtown shops and restaurants. Residents on both sides of the argument agreed that Main Street storefronts don't see enough foot traffic. Frustration with a lack of parking also emerged many times during the hearing, but the grant program can only be used for traffic safety improvements, not parking construction. If approved by Council, the city will ask for $25 million from the Safe Streets and Roads for All competitive grant program. Established under former President Joe Biden, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law set aside $5 billion in grants to support regional, local and tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Council will decide on Monday night whether to move forward with applying for the grant, which councilors appeared inclined to do during past meetings. The grant also requires a 20% match, which would come from a mix of downtown and westside tax increment funds, according to the memo. More info about the Main Street Safety Action Plan can be found at ALSO ON the agenda, Council is expected to accept a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks grant that would go toward improvements to city-owned aquatics facilities, updated signs and fund construction of a climbing wall. The grant, which was awarded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, amounts to around $126,000, according to a city memo. Council will also vote on whether to schedule a public hearing on changes to police and fire impact fees for June 16. The fees were last adjusted in 2015 and were adjusted again to forecast for the next 20 years. The increased fees are intended to help cover capital improvement costs tied to the public safety levy passed by voters in March 2024. For example, the updated fire impact fees would help pay for an eventual fourth fire station. Council is expected to contract Process Wastewater Technologies LLC for $839,000 to procure equipment for upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment plant. The city is moving away from sending its biosolids to Glacier Gold Composting amid its closure but must first pay for facility upgrades and new equipment to meet the Flathead County Landfill's standards, where biosolids will eventually be sent. Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Fayetteville starts $10 million summer-long Maple Street Improvement project
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — 'Road closed' and 'detour' signs were put up at multiple intersections along Maple Street in Fayetteville on Monday morning, as crews began construction and are set to revamp a portion of the thoroughfare this summer. From Gregg to Leverett avenues, crews will repave the existing two-lane roadway and implement a variety of safer bike- and pedestrian-friendly amenities, opening Maple Street back up to traffic when students return to the University of Arkansas in August, Fayetteville's active transportation manager Matt Mihalevich said. Then, during the summer of 2026, crews will shut down Maple Street from Leverett to Garland avenues to complete similar improvements along that stretch of the road. 'We're working together to accomplish this pretty significant project and major improvement for both the city and the university,' Mihalevich said. Shortage of Real IDs causing frustration statewide There will be a two-lane bike path along the south sidewalk from the Razorback Greenway to Garland Avenue with plants separating the cycle track and the street, Mihalevich said. Even further from the street, an 8-foot-wide 'Senior Walk' sidewalk will be built, which will be able to hold 'five to six' years-worth of University of Arkansas graduates' names. 'We have the 40-mile Razorback Greenway that's just on the eastern edge of campus, just past Arkansas (Avenue) along the railroad tracks, and then we have the campus, university, over 30,000 students,' Mihalevich said. 'There is not actually a trail connecting those directly, so what this project will do is provide that direct connection.' Crosswalks will be improved as well, with motion-activated signals being installed, eliminating the need for bikers or walkers to push a button indicating they want to cross Maple Street, Mihalevich said. The crosswalks will be raised above the street surface with wider stripes, with hopes of making it easier for cars to see the crosswalk, Mihalevich said. Will Richardson, a Fayetteville resident who bikes to work daily, said he's happy to hear the city is investing in increased safety for cyclists. He said he has to remain diligent when crossing Maple Street on the Razorback Greenway. 'I pretty much always have to stop here to make sure that a car's not flying by,' Richardson said. 'A lot of people tend to speed on this stretch as well, and so you've got to watch out for yourself and be defensive.' There will be upgraded traffic signals and improved storm drainage. The improvement project is more than a decade in the making, with the inability to secure funding delaying the start date, but a grant will help pay for a big portion of the $10,943,640 estimated cost. The city of Fayetteville was awarded a $25 million grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, $7.5 million of which will be used for the Maple Street improvement project. The University of Arkansas is paying $2.25 million, and the city is contributing $1.25 million, paid for by the 2019 Transportation Street Bond. While the construction may cause headaches, Richardson understands and is excited for the finished product. 'I don't think anyone likes construction,' Richardson said. 'It's a necessary evil in a place that's growing as quickly as Fayetteville does.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
City announces public meeting to discuss Columbus Safety Action Plan
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — Columbus Consolidated Government announced a public meeting to discuss safety issues faced by the community in order to develop a plan to make roads safer. The meeting is scheduled for May 19 at the Columbus Public Library from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. CCG says the Safety Action Plan is a way to create safer streets through a, 'data-driven process.' The city aims to obtain this data through input by the public and others in order to create solutions tailored to those issues. According to CCG, the final plan will include a list of prioritized projects and policies the city and its partners can pursue. The goal of the project is zero road deaths and severe injuries. The city says a Safe Routes to School plan is also being developed. Funding for the plan is coming from the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program. This program provides federal funds for planning, infrastructure, behavioral and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets. CCG says the Safety Action Plan will develop strategies that are consistent with the Safe System Approach. The strategies include: Safe People: A safe system encourages safe and responsible behavior no matter the user's mode of transportation. Safe Speeds: Speed plays a critical role in crash severity. A safe system encourages appropriate speeds, which reduces the likelihood of death and severe injury. Safe Roads: A safe system encourages 'forgiving' roadway design to ensure that even when a road user makes a mistake, that mistake is not likely to be deadly. Safe Vehicles: Cars and trucks that are designed to protect those both in and outside of the vehicle help impact serious injuries in the event of a crash. Post-Crash Care: Improving emergency response times helps improve outcomes for crash victims and creates a safe work environment for first responders. For more information on the plan, visit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
