County to install flashing beacons after $26,000 award; paving bids and striping policy draw discussion

County staff told the board they received a $26,000 TSIP/TCIP grant for traffic‑safety improvements and recommended using it to install flashing beacons at roughly eight stop‑sign locations and to add flashing chevrons on Albertine Hill. Staff said the funds become available in July and estimated the work at about $25,095.

Staff also reported the results of a recent paving bid letting: seven bids were received and the low bidder listed in the transcript (Matthew) submitted a bid of $2,812,602 (about $256,000 per mile in the staff estimate); other bids were higher, with one transcript line referencing approximately $3.91 million on the high end.

Board discussion turned to long‑standing policy on edge‑line striping implemented about 20 years ago, which limited edge‑line painting on roads with fewer than 200–250 vehicles per day. Staff said roughly 140 miles of edge‑line are missing from about 225 miles of hard surface roadway countywide and provided a pavement‑marking cost estimate of roughly $30,000–$50,000 per year and an edge‑line program quote of about $120,000 (transcribed figures). The board discussed whether to schedule a work session to reconsider the threshold and funding for striping and wider paved shoulders with rumble strips.

Staff noted the county applied for additional grants (including Safe Streets for All, SS4A) but was not awarded the SS4A round; neighboring counties received awards. At one crossing by a quarry, staff said the county will negotiate an agreement with Martin Marietta to maintain crossing smoothness and may require the quarry to cover future chip seals or slurry work at that spot.

No formal appropriation for extra striping or rumble strips was adopted at the meeting; staff were asked to pursue grant options and to bring further cost information back to the board.