In an effort to reduce traffic deaths and injuries along California’s roadways, the state has allocated almost $300 million to develop and implement safer road designs and amenities. The investments will progress California’s safety initiatives to achieve zero roadway deaths and injuries by 2050.
The projects receiving funding are included as part of the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) Safe System approach – a statewide effort to incorporate safety features into the holistic transportation system. These features are implemented into projects to protect non-motorized travelers and enhance overall mobility. Some of the recipients of project funding include:
Fresno County will install a roundabout near an unincorporated community and improve safety measures along 10 intersections. These improvements include installing left-turn lanes, adding intersection lighting and improving intersection sight distance. Additional work will include installing retroreflective back plates, protected left-turn phases and advanced stop bars.
Contra Costa County will oversee efforts to install bikeways, shared-use paths and modify traffic signals and refuge islands. Additional work will update unsafe guardrails, end treatments, install speed feedback and curve warning signs, centerline rumble strips and improved street lighting. Pedestrian amenities will include crossing improvements such as flashing beacons, curb ramps and crosswalk striping.
Glendale will improve approximately 120 signalized intersections across the city, installing better signal hardware, pedestrian countdown signal heads, accessible pedestrian signals and leading pedestrian intervals. The city will also install a series of beacon technologies at select intersections and enhance crosswalks by improving the crossing striping, stop bars, yield lines, curb ramps and detectable warning surfaces.
Kern County will focus on improving medians along select road sections and approaches. These efforts will install raised medians, remove existing medians, restrict left- and U-turns and reduce left-turn conflict intersections.
Long Beach will spend its allocation to install and upgrade signs with new fluorescent sheeting across various city locations. In addition, eight intersections in underserved areas of the city will have their outdated parallel bar crosswalks replaced with high-contrast thermoplastic continental alternatives.
(Photo courtesy of Jeremy Kemp.)
