Laredo City Council adopts plan for zero fatalities on roadways by 2040

A recent Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Policy Committee meeting in Laredo highlighted a critical commitment to road safety, with officials pledging to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on local roadways by 2040. This ambitious goal stems from a comprehensive analysis of crash data from 2018 to 2022, revealing 119 victims of fatal or serious injury crashes in 2022 alone across Webb County, primarily in Laredo.

The analysis identified three major contributing factors to these incidents: speeding, drug and alcohol impairment, and seat belt usage. In response, the committee has outlined a series of actions aimed at enhancing safety, equity, and education on the roads. A significant milestone was reached when the MPO, along with the city council and the Regional Mobility Authority (RMA), adopted a pledge to prioritize these safety measures.

The meeting also unveiled a capital plan totaling $33 million, with $20 million allocated for TxDOT right-of-way projects and $10 million for city projects. This plan includes specific recommendations for improvements across 16 corridors, with detailed assessments of contributing factors for each project. For instance, improvements on Houston Street, a key downtown corridor, are estimated to cost just under $1 million.

To fund these initiatives, the committee discussed the need for an 80-20 matching grant structure, where local entities must secure 20% of the project costs. Ongoing discussions with TxDOT aim to identify potential funding sources for these local matches.

As the plan moves towards adoption, the MPO continues to engage with local school districts to enhance safety around campuses, ensuring that the commitment to road safety extends beyond just infrastructure improvements. The next steps involve finalizing funding strategies and advancing implementation efforts, with a focus on community involvement and stakeholder engagement.