Public Meeting # 1 6-7:30 p . m ., Thursday , March 7 , 2024 East Library and Recreation Center 1817 New York Ave ., Arlington , TX 76010
As participants left the meeting , they were asked to share ideas of potential safety demonstration projects .
MEETING PRESENTATION
Introduction and Agenda City of Arlington Planning and Programming Manager Ann Foss kicked oZ the meeting at 6 pm by introducing the project team . In addition , she unveiled the name of the project , Safe Streets Arlington . The City is just one of many government entities provided with funding to implement programs that will reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries due to crashes . The goal is zero fatalities .
Project Manager Josh Peterman reviewed the agenda , which included a word-cloud input session , an overview of the safety plan , a look at the Safe System Approach , and a review of how the City is moving toward zero deaths .
Josh explained that meeting goals included taking a step back to review and revise the Safe Streets Arlington program , review and understand the Safe System Approach and elements of a successful safety program , identify successes to build upon and challenges to address , and brainstorm solutions .
Safety Plan Overview , Purpose , and Schedule Josh explained that Safe Streets and Roads for All ( SS4A ) is a discretionary grant program . It is funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the US Department of Transportation ( USDOT ). The program aims to provide a collaborative and data-driven strategy to reduce transportation related fatalities and serious injuries .
There are four primary parts of the SS4A program : a planning grant , creation of a safety action plan , implementation grants , and infrastructure improvements . The planning grant components include a leadership commitment and goal setting , a planning structure , safety analysis , engagement and collaboration , equity considerations , policy and process changes , strategy and project selections , and progress and transparency methods .
Josh explained the program is important because in a five-year period ( 2018 to 2022 ), more than 21,000 crashes were reported on Arlington streets . In addition , 102 lives were lost and there were more than 4,000 injured . Arlington has a goal of working towards zero deaths by the year 2050 , in line with the North Central Texas Council of Governments ( NCTCOG ) and Texas Department of Transportation ( TxDOT ) goals .
Next , Josh reviewed the program schedule . Community Engagement began in February and will continue through October , while Existing Condition analysis is underway and will continue through April , as will Visioning for program Goals and Implementation . A safety toolkit is going to be developed beginning in April with plan development and adoption continuing through December 2024 .
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