Sunbury aims to make roads and streets safer with help of federal funding

SUNBURY, Ohio (WCMH) — The city of Sunbury is working to make its roads and streets safer. The goal is to reduce injuries and fatalities on the city's major roads, sidewalks and paths. 

Sunbury has been awarded $150,000 in federal funding to complete a 'Roadway Safety Action Plan'. The plan, funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Roads and Streets for All (SS4A) program, will help identify portions of the transportation network that are dangerous, difficult to navigate, or are otherwise unsafe.

According to Sunbury City Administrator, Daryl Hennessy, the city has formed a committee to analyze crash data over the last ten years.

"Over that ten-year period, there have been almost 900 crashes on the city's roadway network and of that, there have been five fatalities and twenty serious injuries so there's definitely some work that we need to do," Hennessy said. 

Hennessy said one key component of the federal funding is including the community in the conversation. 

"In some instances, maybe while we've got data on crashes, there are also parts of our roadway network where maybe we don't quite know yet that they're not quite as safe, because the data isn't showing up quite yet," Hennessy said. "But residents know that, and that's the reason to really begin to engage them."

One of the problem areas that's been identified is State Route 37 on the east side of town. 
"It's had three of the five fatalities on that side of town," Hennessy said. "Some of that may be just the way that the road is designed. It's also an area where you come around a bend. You're also approaching a school district or a school area, there's a crosswalk in that area. And the speed limit, you're basically coming from a rural area into an urban area."

Hennessy said another area that has emerged as a hotspot is State Route 3, near CVS. 
"That's the primary intersection," Hennessy said. "And most of the crashes there are really more rear ending or a pedestrian or a movement, a turn of a vehicle that might be a side impact of some sort. Not as many fatalities in that area, but because of the number of cars going through that area, that's been one of the trouble spots."

Hennessy said Sunbury is growing rapidly and while traffic volume can impact roadway safety, there are other factors too. 

"There may be some communication issues, they may be an enforcement issue, there may be distractions," Hennessy said. "There may be a signage issue. I mean, there are lots of things that we can do to help reduce the number of fatalities, serious injuries. And so that's the reason why we are undertaking the plan."

A survey was put out to residents to help identify portions of the transportation network that are dangerous or difficult to navigate.

"Community input is absolutely essential to understanding where these hotspots are and their thoughts in terms of what we might be able to do to make them safer," Hennessy said.
Hennessy said the goal is to have the results of the survey by Jan. 25.

Once all the data is collected, the city will present a draft version of the plan to the community for additional feedback before finalizing it.