Action plan recommends 19 projects to improve infrastructure, more strategies to reduce fatalities
EBS STAFF
The Gallatin County Commission voted on June 17 to adopt the Gallatin County Safe Streets for All Action Plan to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on county roads.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the project took more than a year of collaboration, research and community engagement and determined four focus areas: run-off-the-road crashes, intersection crashes, driver age and high-risk behaviors behind the wheel, according to a June 17 Gallatin County press release. The action plan recommends addressing the four focus areas through 19 identified infrastructure improvement projects, eight ongoing programs and four policies to promote safety and operations.
“This is an important roadmap and requirement for accessing future grant dollars and an integral part of how we advance some of these big infrastructure projects that are ridiculously expensive,” Gallatin County Commissioner Jennifer Boyer stated.
Four projects are recommended along Gooch Hill Road to improve visibility and intersection safety. Six projects are recommended along U.S. Highway 191 north of the junction between U.S. 191 and Montana Highway 64, near Big Sky. Recommended improvements include installing a second westbound left turn lane at the Four Corners intersection, streamlining business access along U.S. 191 and curve modification and warning signs. Programs like shoulder widening and establishing a more streamlined approach to assess road safety during regular maintenance are recommended, as well as policies like prohibiting cell phone use behind the wheel at the county level and establishing snow removal priority routes.
Adoption of the action plan allows Gallatin County to apply for further federal funds to implement strategies outlined in the plan.
“The plan’s focus is on addressing serious crashes and working toward a goal of reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries by 50% by 2034,” the release stated.
