Barrow County commissioners approve plan to end fatal crashes by 2050

BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Another hopeful step toward more safety in Barrow County is coming soon, according to a plan approved by the board of commissioners on Tuesday.

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What we know:

The Barrow County Safety Action Plan is meant to reduce traffic-related deaths to zero by the year 2050.

The plan is part of a larger program called "Safe Streets and Roads for All" that was established in 2021. That program makes $5 billion available for local, regional and tribal initiatives meant to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries until 2026.

Work on the safety plan began in early 2024 with multiple meetings held throughout the year to get feedback from the residents. In December, the finalized plan was presented before the Board of Commissioners.

That finalized plan included a list of the roads and intersections that have seen fatal and serious crashes over the last five years, called the Barrow Injury Network.

On the BIN, there have been 16 fatal crashes, 30 crashes with serious injuries and 1,240 other types of crashes. According to the research conducted, 98% of all crashes on the BIN happened on local roads.

Some of the suggestions to eliminate fatal crashes include adding speed safety cameras, more sidewalks, light posts and medians.

The plan allows the county to check on progress every three years before reevaluating the countermeasures and making adjustments.

What they're saying:

"This plan gives us a snapshot of the areas around Barrow County that are most in need of safety improvements. Our goal is to have zero roadway fatalities by 2050," said Pat Graham, Barrow County Board of Commissioners Chairman. "And this plan provides a clear roadmap to work toward that goal."

"As with any big-picture plans, we always have to be flexible. This plan is no different. It will be updated every three to five years to reflect new traffic and population data, allowing us to adjust our plans accordingly," said Graham.

Dig deeper:

A copy of the full plan is available on the Barrow County website.