Efforts to cut back traffic-related fatalities and accidents in Northwest Arkansas obtained a inexperienced gentle Wednesday with $500,000.
The Coverage Committee of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Fee accepted federal grant cash to arrange a security plan and an identical grant from the Walton Household Basis.
Regional Planning is the designated transportation planning group for the area.
The decision notes $400,000 in federal cash the area receives has already been earmarked for the work. The Walton Household Basis offered the required $100,000 match.
Regional planners in Could accredited creating a complete security plan utilizing a consulting agency anticipated to be employed within the coming months.
A not too long ago accredited, federal infrastructure regulation established the Protected Streets and Roads for All discretionary grant program with $5 billion in grant cash out there over the following 5 years, together with $1 billion subsequent 12 months. The minimal grant can be $5 million.
Eligible actions for this system embody creating or updating a complete security motion plan; holding planning, design and growth actions in assist of an motion plan; and finishing up tasks and methods recognized in an motion plan.
The aim domestically is to have the regional motion plan in place in time to use for that grant cash, in response to Elizabeth Bowen, with Regional Planning. Counties, cities, cities, transit businesses or different state subdivisions can apply for the grants.
The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration introduced earlier this 12 months the variety of deaths on America’s roads had reached a 16-year excessive. Arkansas hasn’t seen that quantity of improve, however excessive pace and reckless driving are nonetheless killing Arkansans at a better charge than earlier than the covid-19 pandemic, in response to the Arkansas State Police.
On Could 17, the Security Administration introduced the variety of reported visitors fatalities had risen from 38,824 in 2020 to 42,915 final 12 months. The ten.5% improve makes 2021 the deadliest 12 months on American roads since 2005. The numbers launched had been an early estimate.
From 2020 to 2021, Arkansas’ improve in visitors deaths was about half that, with preliminary fatality studies compiled by the Arkansas Division of Public Security indicating 651 folks died in wrecks final 12 months, up about 5% from 619 killed in 2020.
The numbers to date this 12 months are down barely.