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Planning Commission backs borough resolution urging Assembly to adopt 'Safe Streets for All' safety action plan
Summary
The commission voted to request Assembly adoption of the borough's Safe Streets for All comprehensive safety action plan, a data-driven plan prepared with a $550,000 grant that identifies project recommendations, a toolkit of countermeasures and a path to federal implementation grants requiring a 20% match.
The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission on March 17 voted to support a resolution asking the Assembly to adopt the borough's Safe Streets for All comprehensive safety action plan, a data-driven blueprint intended to reduce serious and fatal traffic crashes across the borough's expanded core area.
Staff said adopting the plan would make the borough and cities eligible to seek federal Safe Streets and Roads for All implementation grants, which range from $1 million to $10 million and require a 20% nonfederal match.
Why it matters: The plan compiles five years of crash data, recommends 16 project ideas and offers a toolkit of countermeasures and performance measures to guide roadway safety improvements; adoption is a prerequisite to compete for federal implementation funding.
Jamie Taylor, a civil engineer in the borough's Public Works Department and project manager for the Safe Streets plan, presented the final plan and summarized its purpose: "This plan sets goals to reduce serious and fatal injury crashes on the road, and it provides a recommended list of policies and practices that the borough, the cities, and the MVD can choose to implement." Taylor said the plan does not mandate projects or change jurisdictional boundaries; it is a planning and funding tool.
Taylor said the borough received about 912 responses to its community survey, logged more than 800 views of virtual workshops and received 74 public comments on the draft; Michael Baker International served as consultant on the plan. Taylor said public comments led to modest adjustments, including additional attention to ATV use in rights-of-way and recommendations for improvements near Shaw Elementary.
When asked about cost, Taylor said the borough obtained a grant to prepare the plan totaling about $550,000. He also told commissioners that Safe Streets and Roads for All implementation grants range from $1 million to $10 million and require a 20% match.
Commissioners praised the plan and its level of staff work. Commissioner Allen moved the commission resolution in support of Assembly adoption; Commissioner Glenn seconded. A member of the public, Timothy Alley of the Butte Company, spoke in support. The Planning Commission approved Resolution 25-03 without objection.
Looking ahead: Adoption by the Assembly would allow the borough to pursue competitive federal implementation grants and prioritize projects such as walk-to-school improvements, turn lanes on Bogard Road and shoulder widening on Vine Road, among the plan's project candidates.
