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County reviews draft safety plan that aims to cut traffic fatalities and win grants
Summary
Calaveras County heard a draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan presentation that identifies 10 high‑injury corridors, reports 356 injury collisions (2020–2024), and proposes seven project types—from corridor treatments to street lighting and bike facilities—intended to make the county competitive for HSIP and other grants.
County public‑works staff and consultants presented a draft Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP) and sought board direction to open a public‑comment period.
Rutha Jariwala of TJKM Engineering said the CSAP prioritizes human life across all modes, explaining, “A comprehensive safety action plan really focuses on safety for all modes of transportation.” Consultants reviewed five years of collision data (2020–2024) and said the analysis identified a top‑10 high‑injury network and recurring contributing factors such as improper turning and unsafe speed.
The consultants reported 356 injury collisions countywide in the five‑year study span and provided a severity breakdown and modal mix used to prioritize projects. They outlined seven project categories—corridor packages (signage, striping, radar feedback), high‑friction surface treatment and guardrails, intersection signage/striping upgrades, targeted street lighting, sidewalk gap closures, bike facility improvements, and alcohol‑awareness efforts. Staff noted an existing OTS speed‑study grant and said the CSAP is necessary to apply for HSIP and other federal/state funds.
Supervisors and residents asked how the CSAP addresses evacuations and bridge vulnerabilities during catastrophic fire or flooding events; staff said the CSAP focuses on traffic safety for county roads and that separate bridge programs are better positioned to address structural flood/capacity issues. Consultants and staff committed to adjust maps/appendices to account for recent district boundary changes and to publish the draft online for public comment prior to returning to the board for adoption.
