County identifies top crash areas in new plan to eliminate fatalities
After researching transportation trends for the past eight months, the Crawford County Planning Office's new initiative puts the county on the fast track for better safety. Its goal is to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries on county roadways by 2035.
Between 2019 and 2023, the county experienced 3,675 crashes on non-interstate roads with 220 incidents resulting in fatal or serious injuries, according to planning office data. The driving force behind the goal came from the county's current comprehensive plan, adopted in 2024, known as Crawford Inspired.
To improve public health and quality of life in the area, the plan engaged various stakeholders and community members. Residents reported improved pedestrian, biking and road safety as a necessity. Now, the Safety Action Plan (SAP) provides a comprehensive strategy to enhance safety by identifying systemic safety challenges and 10 high-risk areas in the county. Then, it can establish clear implementation strategies.
Crash data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) revealed that 82 percent of severe crashes in the county occurred on just 16 percent of roadways and interstates, leading to a much more location-focused plan of attack. By identifying the top crash locations — like State Route 18 in Conneaut Lake and State Route 27 in Titusville — the county can develop targeted countermeasures.
Data also showed that speeding and alcohol impairment while driving were among the highest factors of severe crashes, and one group — motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and horse and buggies — were significantly overrepresented in severe crashes. That data will inform decisions down the road.
'We had a steering committee of 13 individuals including the townships association, boroughs association, CATA [Crawford Area Transportation Authority], folks from PennDOT, Ernst Trail group, the two cities had representation on it and this would allow us to move forward with unlocking some state and federal funding as well as addressing 10 of the most serious/fatal accident locations in Crawford County,' Planning Office Director Zachary Norwood explained to Crawford County commissioners during a work session Wednesday.
Norwood told The Meadville Tribune that the plan is catered to adhere to the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. Established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, SS4A must appropriate $5 billion from 2022 to 2026 for regional and local initiatives that prevent roadway fatalities and injuries. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's website, $2 billion of that money remains up for grabs.
'We crafted a plan in alignment with that program to address the concerns and issues we are facing,' Norwood said, noting that there are state programs that they will be eligible for, too. 'We did a plan that will tackle lots of funding streams and give us the tools we need to be successful.'
The road to success begins Wednesday as commissioners vote to adopt the plan and its goal. Then, the county will form an SAP coalition, invest in policy reforms and transportation planning, advance engineering projects, launch and support education and enforcement, and build capacity to implement the SAP through staffing and ensure accountability.
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