As the harrowing statistics of traffic-related deaths and injuries weigh on the conscience of Travis County, the local government has signaled a firm commitment to dramatically curb, if not completely eradicate, the prevalence of such tragedies. For five years, Travis County has witnessed a troubling 3,626 accidents resulting in serious harm or loss of life, as reported by Community Impact. The commissioners' meeting on October 1 illuminated the details of an ambitious Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) Safety Action Plan, which seeks to align with the City of Austin’s Vision Zero initiative.
This considerable effort has taken the form of a systematic plan that aims to proactively identify and address accident hotspots as well as issues in unincorporated areas and particularly vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians. Applying for federal funds dispersed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, which has allocated $5 billion for local SS4A projects, has been made conditional upon the adoption of such a locally devised blueprint. As Dan Malson, a transportation engineer with Kimley-Horn, emphasized during the briefing, "Safety needs to be proactive; it can't just be chasing crashes," indicating a shift from reactive to preventive safety measures, according to Community Impact.
Amidst the county's deliberations, concerns over Ranch to Market Road 1431 in west Travis County have been raised, as recounted by Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea and echoed by residents. "There’s really you know, steep hills. You can’t see cars backed up when you’re coming up over a hill. People drive at very high speeds," Commissioner Shea told KXAN. The installation of better lighting, expansion of space for maneuvering, and intersection improvements are among the measures being contemplated.
Long-range planning manager for Travis County, Scheleen Walker, noted the necessity of addressing the lack of street lighting in the area, stating, "We do not provide street lights in unincorporated Travis County; some developers do, but we're going to have to look into that issue because it is turning into a big issue," as mentioned in the Community Impact report.
