By Rylie Friesen-
The City of Citrus Heights held a recent online workshop to update community members on progress for the development of a new tool aimed at prioritizing traffic and safety requests for residential streets in Citrus Heights.
The Multi Modal Transportation Safety Program (MMTSP) has been in development for the past year, and is designed to enhance the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists on residential roads.
In the latest 40-minute virtual workshop, some of the project leaders shared how the new tool will help decrease speed-related issues and other safety concerns in residential areas.
What is the tool?
The city regularly receives over 100 requests per year to update crosswalks, signs, striping, and other safety concerns from residents. The MMTSP tool is an online system that will prioritize all safety requests made for residential streets. Those deemed most important will then put forward for funding.
Residents will be able to view a map of the city and view all requests that have been made citywide, along with see a priority ranking for the request.
The program is not focused on improvements for major arterials like Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard, but will instead focus on residential streets in neighborhoods across the city.
How will requests prioritized?
Requests will be prioritized through location and the issue it relates to. The first step will be documenting and “scoring” the request’s effectiveness through factors like proximity to schools or community centers, documented safety issues, equity, proximity to bus stops or bike lines, or poor lighting. Results from a survey sent out earlier this year will help determine priorities.
All requests will be shown anonymously on a regularly updated website from the city. After prioritization, the city will evaluate the issue further to determine what improvement would be more appropriate.
“As an example, if a high scoring request is related to speeding, the city may collect traffic volume and speed data to assess how serious of an issue it may be,” a representative said during the most recent workshop.
How are requests sent from different platforms considered?
Requests will be able to be made through platforms like email, phone calls, the city’s website, the Police Department, and more. The goal of the program is to capture input from all platforms and methods into one central location so the requests can be evaluated properly.
“The city is working with the Police Department to ensure that all calls related to traffic safety are added into the MMTSP review,” said Mary Poole, the City’s Operations Manager.
How much does the program cost?
MMTSP is funded through a $180,000 grant from Caltrans Sustainable Communities and a local match of $23,321 from the City of Citrus Heights.
When will the program launch?
A presentation to the City Council is anticipated this winter, with the launch date for the MMTSP tool planned for spring 2021.
Two previous workshops related to the program have been held, one last fall and one this spring. Those interested in watching the latest workshop can view a recording on the city’s Youtube page.
