Newton County approves $400,000 comprehensive transportation plan after residents urge safety studies for Highways 36 and 11

Newton County commissioners voted May 19 to approve a $400,000 comprehensive transportation plan that county staff said is funded roughly 80% by the Federal Highway Administration with a 20% local match. The manager’s office sought approval even though the consultant presentation was deferred.

Two public commenters, Monica Segastozado and Christopher Davis, each asked the board to add a corridor-specific safety transportation plan for Highway 36 and to include design-policy recommendations for state-owned Highway 11 so the Georgia Department of Transportation would consider studying safety improvements. Segastozado, who identified herself as a Mansfield resident, told the board there were several recent crashes on Highway 36 and said a corridor-wide safety plan could help the county seek Safe Streets for All funding.

County Manager James Brown said the comprehensive plan will include cross sections and data for state routes but cautioned that major improvements on state-owned highways generally require action by 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,” he said.

Commissioner Edwards said he has been communicating with GDOT about high-risk intersections on Highway 36 and Highway 11, and requested that staff prioritize the busiest intersections for coordination with the state. The board then moved, seconded and approved the plan by voice vote.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the comprehensive planning work and coordinate with GDOT on state-route analyses; commissioners asked staff to highlight the busiest intersections for DOT attention so the county plan can support state study requests.