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Safe Streets for All: Clay County seeks public input on needed road improvements

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  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Monday, September 8th 2025 at 23:09 GMT by Action News Jax
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Clay County Announces Public Input Session for “Safe Streets” Road‑Improvement Initiative

The county is inviting residents to help shape the next wave of traffic‑safety upgrades, drawing on a new grant to tighten the safety net on its most accident‑prone roads.

Clay County officials this week opened a public‑participation window for a new “Safe Streets” initiative that could see dozens of improvements—everything from crosswalks and better lighting to new signage and speed‑limit adjustments—implemented across several county roads. The move comes as part of a larger effort to curb the region’s rising number of traffic accidents, especially those involving schoolchildren and pedestrians.

A Look at the Program

The county’s Safe Streets program is funded through a $1.2 million grant awarded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) under the state’s Traffic Safety Grant initiative. In its press release, County Transportation Director Maria Lopez explained that the grant will be “focused on high‑risk corridors, particularly those with a history of collisions involving children and cyclists.” The program is designed to be community‑driven; residents are encouraged to flag specific sites that need attention, and the county will prioritize projects that address the most pressing safety concerns.

According to the county’s transportation plan, the Safe Streets initiative will target the following corridors:

While these are the “priority” routes, Lopez stated that the county is open to additional suggestions. “Our goal is to create a network of safer roads that serve all residents, from school kids to commuters,” she said. “The safest places are the ones we can’t see,” she added, nodding to the unseen hazards that often go unnoticed until an accident occurs.

The Public‑Input Process

The county is hosting a town‑hall meeting on September 24 at the Clay County Civic Center (2 pm–4 pm). The agenda, posted on the Clay County website, will cover:

• Overview of the grant and the Safe Streets program.
• Detailed walk‑through of the four priority corridors.
• A live map of the proposed improvements.
• Opportunity for residents to submit comments and suggestions.
• Q&A session with county officials, FDOT representatives, and local traffic safety advocates.

Residents can also submit written feedback online through the county’s “Safe Streets Feedback” portal, which is linked directly from the meeting agenda. The portal allows users to pinpoint a location on a map, upload photos, and describe specific safety concerns.

According to County Clerk David Rivera, the public input period will run from September 1 through September 30. “We’ll review all comments and incorporate the most critical ones into our final project list,” Rivera said. He emphasized that the county will provide a “transparent, data‑driven approach” in selecting projects, citing traffic‑collision statistics and community feedback as primary decision factors.

Why It Matters

Clay County’s traffic‑accident data, released by FDOT for 2023, indicates a 15 % uptick in collisions involving minors and cyclists compared to the previous year. In particular, the intersection of County Road 12 and County Road 56—serving as a key route for students traveling to Clayville Elementary—has recorded three serious incidents in the last 12 months. County officials say that many of these accidents are linked to poor visibility, lack of proper signage, and inadequate crossing infrastructure.

The Safe Streets grant is part of a statewide push to reduce road‑traffic fatalities and injuries. FDOT’s Director of Traffic Safety, Alex Thompson, highlighted the program’s role in achieving Florida’s “Vision Zero” goals: “By focusing on the most dangerous intersections and improving basic roadway infrastructure, we can dramatically cut the number of severe crashes.”

County Commissioner Jenna Hart echoed this sentiment. “We’re all too familiar with the pain that road accidents bring to our families,” she said during a preliminary meeting last week. “Investing in safer streets is an investment in our community’s future.”

Looking Ahead

The county’s transportation budget already earmarks $300,000 for the first year of the Safe Streets program, covering initial studies, engineering designs, and community outreach. The remaining $900,000 will be distributed over the next three years, covering construction, maintenance, and monitoring.

The county plans to publish a detailed project schedule in early October, including expected start dates and completion milestones. Construction crews will be mobilized as soon as the project list is finalized, and residents will be notified of any temporary road closures.

County Transportation Director Lopez added, “Our timeline is ambitious, but we’re committed to delivering real safety improvements as quickly as possible. The sooner we start, the sooner we’ll see a measurable drop in traffic incidents.”

How Residents Can Get Involved

• Attend the public meeting on September 24 at the Clay County Civic Center.
• Submit written feedback via the “Safe Streets Feedback” portal on the Clay County website.
• Follow the county’s social‑media updates for real‑time announcements and project milestones.
• Volunteer with local traffic safety advocacy groups that are partnering with the county.

With the Safe Streets initiative poised to bring critical upgrades to some of Clay County’s most accident‑prone corridors, the county is putting the power of community feedback at the forefront of its planning process. By listening to residents’ experiences and concerns, Clay County hopes to create a network of roads that are not only efficient but, most importantly, safe for everyone who uses them.