Habersham County adopts Safe Streets for All goal to pursue zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2040

The Habersham County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution stating the county’s goal to work toward zero traffic deaths and serious injuries on county-owned and maintained roads by 2040 under the Safe Streets for All planning grant.

Keani Holden, interim finance administrator and grant coordinator for the project, reminded the board that the resolution is a planning goal required for the grant and will help the county and its consultant evaluate county roads. Holden said the county will identify its top 20 roads for review and that potential improvements could be limited to lower-cost measures such as additional signage, striping, or shoulder improvements. She emphasized the county is not committing to construction during the planning phase; at the end of the study the county will have a complete strategic plan that can be used for future grants or projects.

Commissioner Akins moved to approve a resolution (Resolution No. 25-03-001) to adopt the zero-deaths goal; the motion passed by voice vote recorded as 4-0.

Why it matters: Adopting the goal allows the county to proceed with the Safe Streets for All planning work and positions Habersham County to compete for future construction grants and to prioritize safety-treated segments. The planning study will identify candidate corridors for low-cost safety treatments and longer-term projects.

Ending: County staff and the consultant Kimley-Horn will prepare the plan and return recommendations to the board if the county elects to pursue design or construction phases.