Beltrami County seeks input on safer roads planning

BEMIDJI — Beltrami County is asking for your input as it develops a new plan to keep its roads safer.

The county was awarded funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.

The plan is a strategic, countywide effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate serious injuries and deaths on area roads, a news release from the county stated.

The plan will look at crash trends and safety challenges to identify priority projects. It may also help the county secure future funding for those projects.

Beltrami County is asking community members to take a short survey or contribute to an online feedback map for the plan. Other engagement opportunities will include community events and focus groups.

“Safety on our roadways is a top priority for Beltrami County,” said Bruce Hasbargen, Beltrami County engineer, in the release. “The Comprehensive Safety Action Plan will help us better understand where serious crashes are occurring and why. With support from the ... grant, we can take a proactive, data-driven, and community-informed approach to making our roads safer for everyone who uses them.”