A new Comprehensive Safety Action Plan is underway in the Mat-Su Borough core area. What it means for residents throughout the Borough is that safer streets are a priority.
While the plan is focused on the core area now, it shows an effort by the Borough to make streets safer for residents who do not use cars to get around. The plan expands out from Wasilla through the Palmer and Houston areas.
Funding for the plan is through the Safe Streets For All initiative through the federal government. According to Joni Wilm of Michael Baker, International, the firm leading the planning effort for the Borough, the goal is to improve safety and have no fatalities on the roads.
Over the last ten years in the core area, there were 135 crashes with non-motorized users. About 93 percent of those resulted in injuries. The plan is focused on active transportation users, or people not in a vehicle. Those people are the most vulnerable in a crash.
Core area transportation initiatives impact all residents who use those roads, paths, and sidewalks, including Upper Valley residents. And increasing population growth in the Mat-Su Borough includes the Upper Valley.
Wilm says the plan involves significant public input and will provide demonstration project ideas that will help make streets safer. It will also open the door for future planning and implementation funding. The public comment period ends August 30th.
More information about the plan is at ss4a.matsugov.us
