County presents federal safety-plan priorities; $15 million in potential roadway projects identified

Franklin County engineering staff presented a countywide road-safety plan developed in conjunction with other counties and Federal Highway Administration guidance, highlighting priority road segments, intersections and curves and outlining grant opportunities. The presentation compared Franklin County crash data (2019–2023) with statewide averages and broke incidents into intersection, curve and linear crashes. Staff said the county’s crash rate is below the statewide average but that serious and fatal crashes persist and that lane departures and intersection safety are statewide priorities. Staff noted the county lacks mapped “underserved communities” on the FHWA template, which reduces the county’s competitiveness for certain grants. The presenter said that joining other jurisdictions’ grant applications that include underserved communities is a strategy to access funds. Priority segments identified on the plan include the county’s highest-traveled road, Mallard, and several curves that the FHWA flagged for improvements. Staff estimated about $15,000,000 worth of work across prioritized segments if pursued fully and discussed potential funding sources including DOT safety funds and federal grants, plus adding projects to the county’s five-year transportation program. Why it matters: the plan is intended to make the county eligible for safety-targeted funding, establish a prioritized project list for shoulders, rumbles and other countermeasures and guide maintenance and grant applications. Staff recommended using the plan to support grant applications, plan maintenance and coordinate school and law-enforcement partnerships; the board received the presentation and discussion focused on next steps for applying for grant funding and for highlighting priority roads in the county’s program.