Public input needed to identify safety concerns in the region.
RIDGWAY – The North Central (rpo.ncentral.com) Rural Transportation Planning Organization is asking the public to help identify roadway safety issues to support the development of a regional Safety Action Plan for Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean and Potter counties.
North Central invites the public to participate by taking the online mapping survey (https://wikimapping.com/North-Central-Safety-Action-Plan.html) and attending one of the three upcoming public meetings, either in-person or virtually. All three public meetings will cover the same project information.
To accommodate as many people in the region as possible, North Central is offering three ways to participate in the public meetings: (1) in-person at the main meeting; (2) in-person at a satellite location; or (3) join online from home.
McKean & Potter Counties – Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.
Main meeting location – Bradford City Hall: 24 Kennedy St., Bradford
Satellite broadcast locations
- McKean County Emergency Services: 17175 Route 6, Smethport
- Potter County Planning Office: 1 N. Main St., Coudersport
Join online from home: click here (https://safety-action-plan-northcentral.hub.arcgis.com/pages/get-involved) to access the virtual meeting link
Elk & Cameron Counties – Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m.
Main meeting location – City Hall Main Council Room: 11 Lafayette St., St. Marys
Satellite broadcast locations
- Cameron County Courthouse: 20 E. Fifth St., Emporium
- Elk County Annex Building: 300 Center St., Ridgway
Join online from home: click here (https://safety-action-plan-northcentral.hub.arcgis.com/pages/get-involved) to access the virtual meeting link
Jefferson & Clearfield Counties – Monday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m.
Main meeting location – City Building: 16 W. Scribner Ave., DuBois
Satellite broadcast locations
- Clearfield County Administrative Offices: 212 E. Locust St., Clearfield
- Brookville Borough Building: 18 Western Ave., Brookville
Join online from home: click here (https://safety-action-plan-northcentral.hub.arcgis.com/pages/get-involved) to access the virtual meeting link
“We have a large geographic region to cover and want to accommodate as many people as possible for the public meetings,” said Amy Kessler, director of Community Development and Regional Planning at North Central.
“Satellite locations are a convenient option for those that find the main public meeting location challenging to get to. Each satellite location includes a live feed of the meeting presentation through either an audio or audio and video connection.
“A North Central staff member and/or county staff involved in the Safety Action Plan will be on-site at the satellite locations to answer your questions.”
The online mapping survey allows residents to identify locations of safety concerns and potential improvements in the region.
Topics of concern may include driving, bicycle, accessibility, pedestrian and general safety. The online mapping survey is open through the end of October, after which the data will be analyzed to identify locations of topics of concern.
North Central’s Safety Action Plan project is a result of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A) grant program – a substantial $5 billion federal funding source dedicated to critical safety enhancements.
The Safety Action Plan will outline projects and opportunities to improve safety for motorists, transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists alike, with the ultimate goal of reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries in the region.
“We need the public’s support and involvement to identify locations across the region where safety is a concern,” said Connor Vecellio, transportation planning coordinator at North Central.
“We are committed to significantly reducing roadway fatalities. The online survey and public meetings help us narrow down specific locations where safety and infrastructure improvements need to be addressed.”
More information about the project can be found on the Safety Action Plan Project website (https://safety-action-plan-northcentral.hub.arcgis.com/).
If you have any questions or need special assistance to participate in the online survey (https://wikimapping.com/North-Central-Safety-Action-Plan.html) or the public meetings, please contact Connor Vecellio 814-773-3162, ext. 3012.
