A $190,000 grant has been awarded to the Mesa County Regional Transportation Planning Office to advance the county’s Safety Action Plan. The funding aims to enhance roadway safety, education, and outreach efforts, particularly in rural areas where data collection and proactive measures have lagged behind.

Strengthening Safety Measures in Mesa County

The Mesa County Regional Transportation Planning Office partnered with Grand Junction, Fruita, and Palisade to secure the grant. The funds will support the Mesa County Safety Action Plan, adopted earlier this year, by implementing critical safety measures designed to reduce crashes and improve roadway conditions.

Transportation planner Rachel Peterson emphasized the importance of addressing gaps in data collection, particularly in the county’s rural regions. “We do not have the best data in the rural areas of Mesa County. We want to make sure we are better with our data in those areas,” Peterson explained.

The focus isn’t just on reactive responses to accidents but also on preventive strategies to mitigate risks before they escalate.

New Funding, New Goals

The grant will be allocated across various initiatives aimed at improving roadway safety:

• Enhanced data collection in rural areas to identify high-risk zones and better inform future safety measures.
• Installation of speed feedback signs, which are proven to reduce speeding and enhance driver awareness.
• Increased outreach and educational programs targeting both urban and rural communities to promote safer driving habits.

These measures are part of the Regional Transportation Safety Task Force’s broader commitment to ensuring that all aspects of the Safety Action Plan are executed effectively.

Addressing Rural Challenges

One of the key challenges facing Mesa County is the lack of comprehensive data in rural regions. Poor road conditions, coupled with limited traffic monitoring, have made it harder to address safety issues proactively.

With the new funding, officials plan to prioritize collecting more accurate and granular data on rural roadways. This data will guide future infrastructure improvements and help identify patterns that contribute to crashes.

For residents in these areas, the changes promise more than just safer roads. They signal a shift toward a proactive approach that prioritizes the needs of all Mesa County communities, no matter how remote.

Collaboration Driving Change

The successful grant application reflects a collaborative effort between local governments and planning offices. By working together, Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, and Mesa County demonstrated their shared commitment to creating a safer transportation network.

With the funding secured and a clear plan in place, the next steps will involve implementing these projects and tracking their impact on roadway safety across the county.