HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – Hunterdon County Commissioner Zach Rich, who serves as the liaison to the Planning and Land Use Department shared at a recent board meeting that work is underway for the development a countywide Local Safety Action Plan (LSAP), which will identify and prioritize transportation safety improvements to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes on county and municipal roadways.
“This LSAP initiative highlights the county and this Board’s commitment to creating safer, more accessible roadways for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians a like. The LSAP process relies on input from Hunterdon County residents and technical experts to match local needs with solutions that will reduce and eliminate serious injuries and fatalities,” Rich said.
The development of the Local Safety Action Plan is being funded by a grant through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the federally authorized metropolitan planning organization for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey. Creating LSAP’s can help counties and municipalities access new funding opportunities to implement safety plans, including federal programs such as the $5 billion ‘Safe Streets and Roads for All Program’.
Crash analysis for Hunterdon County shows that 43 percent of all fatal and serious injury crashes occur on county and local roads, compared to 60 percent statewide. Fatalities tend to peak in September and serious injuries in July with lane departure as the most common factor. The Federal Highway Administration has identified LSAP’s as a proven and effective strategy to reduce these crashes.
“We are dedicated to improving the safety and quality of life for our residents. This LSAP plan will incorporate community feedback, data analysis, and the best practices in transportation safety to implement effective solutions. There will be several opportunities for Hunterdon County residents to provide feedback to help guide the creation of this plan, including an online survey and in-person events,” Rich said.
Hunterdon County invites all residents to participate in the planning process. To learn more about the LSAP and stay up to date about ways to contribute to the plan, visit Hunterdon.SafetyPlansNJ.com.
