MSB Comprehensive Safety Action Plan open for public comment

Among the topics that residents across the Matanuska-Susitna Borough (MSB) are most concerned about are safe roads for commuters and visitors. Safety in transportation is an essential component of a healthy community. A safe transportation environment is one where people can meet their daily needs, using a mode of travel that is the easiest, most convenient, and affordable for them and their families. With this in mind, the U.S. Department of Transportation created the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program to provide funding for plans and projects that help prevent deaths and serious injuries on roadways across the country.

With that in mind, the MSB developed the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP), which is open for public comment through January 19.

The CSAP, a strategic component of the SS4A program, looks at how the MSB can improve safety on the roads including a review of crash data, the results of a public survey, and specific recommendations with a timeline for implementation.

The public has the opportunity to learn more about the CSAP and provide public comment and can attend a public meeting, or provide feedback online.

The remaining upcoming meetings will be held in Palmer, at Pioneer Peak Elementary Library, Thursday 16, 4:30-6:30 p.m. And in Wasilla, at the Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center, also on Thursday, Jan. 16, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Once developed, the CSAP can be used to successfully apply for SS4A-related grants to fund implementation projects as well as supplemental planning activities and demonstration projects.

To ensure that the MSB can use this CSAP to successfully apply for future grant funding to implement projects and conduct supplemental planning activities, this plan is organized to clearly align with the SS4A eligibility requirements for Safety Action Plans.

Over 900 people who participated in this planning process through the safety survey, the virtual public workshops, interactive online data dashboard, focus groups, the open houses in Wasilla, Palmer, and Houston, and those who reached out to the project team.

To learn more about the CSAP, and comment on the draft, please visit www.ss4a.matsugov.us