Jefferson County awarded rural transit grant; regional plan to pursue Safe Streets construction funds
Loading...
Summary
Big Bend Transit and the Appalachian Regional Planning Council told commissioners the county received a rural transportation grant for free local rides and that a regional Safe Streets and Roads for All action plan will seek projects to reduce roadway fatalities and support future construction funding.
A Big Bend Transit representative told the Jefferson County Board the county was awarded a rural transportation grant that will allow free rides for residents and improve online scheduling and ride requests.
"We were awarded a transportation grant, free of charge for the community," Sean (S14), the transit representative, said, and described updates to the county website and scheduling system to allow online approvals and ride booking. Staff said funding can be leveraged to connect riders to Jefferson Express bus stops so residents can reach Tallahassee and return safely.
Christian Levings of the Appalachian Regional Planning Council said the region received U.S. Department of Transportation funding to develop a regional transportation safety action plan under the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The plan requires a regional advisory committee, public meetings in each county and roughly eight in‑person advisory meetings over 18 months to identify projects that would reduce serious injuries and fatalities and help secure future construction grants.
Levings asked the board to nominate two local representatives—county staff, school employees, public‑health officials or first responders—to serve on the regional advisory committee and said the first county public meeting is expected later this month or in May.
Commissioners thanked the transit and planning representatives and asked staff to follow up with contact information and next‑step logistics for public outreach and committee appointments.
