County Highway Department earns Safe Streets for All Federal grant
News | Published on January 2, 2024 at 12:28pm EST | Author: frazeevergas
0Otter Tail County is pleased to announce that the County Highway Department has received a 2024 Safe Streets and Road for All federal planning grant. The county received one of seven grants allocated in Minnesota this year. The grant will fund the development of an Otter Tail County Safety Action Plan to improve safety on the 1,067 miles of highway in the county.
“A Safe Streets for All view of transportation planning enables Otter Tail County to more closely evaluate traveler safety for all modes,” said County Engineer Krysten Foster.
The Otter Tail County Highway Department is dedicated to providing and maintaining safe and efficient roadways for both the residents of the county and its visitors. Nationally, fatalities from crashes were declining, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, when, unfortunately, in 2020, there was a rise in the number of fatalities.
In Otter Tail County, from 2017-21, there were 30 traffic crash fatalities. According to Foster, the county highway department will use this grant funding for its continued commitment to work with partner agencies to expand and adopt innovative engineering approaches that move road safety in the direction of “Toward Zero Deaths.”
Ultimately, the funds will lead to infrastructure solutions that reduce serious injuries and deaths from roadway crashes involving vehicles, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. These funds will help Otter Tail County further enhance and develop road safety action plans and continue to collaborate to improve safety on local roadways.
Wayne Johnson, chair of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners, extended his appreciation for the highway department’s work.
“We continue to prioritize our investment in the safety of our residents and visitors. This grant will enhance our efforts as we collaborate with stakeholders to develop and implement roadway safety innovations,” he said.
Public input meetings are expected to be scheduled during the summer of 2024.
For updates about the Safety Action Plan, visit the highway webpage at www.ottertailcounty.gov/highway and follow the county on social media platforms.