Newton County approves $400,000 comprehensive transportation plan after residents urge corridor safety work

The Newton County Board of Commissioners on May 19 approved a $400,000 comprehensive transportation plan that county staff said would be 80% funded by the Federal Highway Administration with a 20% local match.

Several residents urged the board to include corridor‑wide safety studies in the plan. "Perhaps you all may consider adding a safety transportation plan for Highway 36 into this current Newton County transportation plan," Monica Segestasado told the board during public comment, citing multiple recent crashes on Highway 36 and a pedestrian death on Highway 11.

County Manager James Brown said the county's plan can analyze cross sections and identify local priorities but that final approvals and major improvements on state‑owned routes fall to the Georgia Department of Transportation. "Ultimately, it will fall back onto the state to do those analysis for any type of improvement on those specific highways," Brown said, noting the limits of county authority over state routes.

Commissioners said they will attempt to incorporate busy intersections on state highways into the study where possible to aid local advocacy with GDOT. The board voted to approve the plan.

The manager had invited Luminor Engineering to present a short briefing on the plan, but representatives were not present; the manager noted the firm had presented previously at an earlier meeting. Public commenters and a commissioner urged the board to emphasize safety for Highway 36 and Highway 11 to help the city of Mansfield seek state funding and design assistance.