H-GAC develops new regional Safety Action Plan

HOUSTON — As traffic fatalities continue to climb across Southeast Texas, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is launching a major initiative aimed at curbing the rising tide of roadway deaths. The regional planning agency has scheduled a series of public meetings to develop a comprehensive Safety Action Plan, with the first session set for Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

The meeting will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and will be hosted at the H-GAC offices at 3555 Timmons Lane in Houston. For those unable to attend in person, the organization is providing a virtual attendance option via Zoom.

This effort comes as part of a national shift toward Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. The H-GAC region, which spans 13 counties including Harris, Fort Bend, Galveston, and Montgomery, has seen a consistent increase in accidents involving motor vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists in recent years.

The development of this plan is supported by a $500,000 grant awarded under the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. By securing these funds, H-GAC is positioned to conduct the rigorous data analysis and community outreach necessary to identify high-risk corridors throughout the region. The plan must be completed by November 2024 to ensure the region remains eligible for subsequent federal implementation funding, which could be worth millions in infrastructure improvements.

Officials emphasize that community voices are the backbone of the initiative. The H-GAC is currently collecting public feedback through an open comment period that began October 2 and runs through November 1, 2023. Residents are encouraged to report specific intersections, roadways, or transit areas where they feel unsafe, providing the data needed to prioritize future construction and safety enhancements.

The 13-county planning region encompasses Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Waller, and Wharton counties. Because the region represents one of the fastest-growing and most traffic-dense areas in the United States, the stakes for this safety plan are high.

Those interested in participating can register for the Zoom link or view additional details on the official H-GAC website at www.h-gac.com. Residents who cannot attend the meetings are invited to submit their feedback via the online portal located on the agency’s safety initiative page.

By integrating regional data with the specific experiences of those who navigate these roads daily, H-GAC aims to create a roadmap that transforms dangerous stretches of pavement into safer infrastructure for all users, regardless of how they choose to travel.