Aiken leaders aim to improve road safety at community meeting
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Aiken leaders will hold a community meeting on Tuesday to hear the community’s thoughts on how to make their roads safer.
Leaders want to hear from the public who drive on the roads to better address the problem.
The meeting will be held at the Odell Weeks Activity Center from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Leaders also held a public safety meeting on Wednesday.
Roads like Silver Bluff Road and Powder House Road are included in a possible safety improvement plan.
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Since 2017, there have been 38 traffic-related deaths in Aiken.
This is why the city says it’s working on a plan to make Aiken roads safer with the help of a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
They are paving the way for safer roads.
“We actually received a grant to do a safe streets for all study for the City of Aiken,” said Maryah Multrie, City of Aiken planning director.
Whether you’re walking, biking or driving.
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“Our consultants have taken a one-mile buffer around the city, then they determine where those higher injury networks are and then begin to drill down and try to look at what we can actually do to try to mitigate some of those concerns,” said Multrie.
Andrew Hendrix has lived in Aiken County for more than 20 years. He says there’s always room for improvement.
“There’s a few spots on my drive to and from work, and I’ve seen a few near misses – a couple of collisions,” said Hendrix. “There’s a few places that I’ve thought for years probably needed a traffic signal, and they haven’t had one.”
Multrie says most high-injury networks happen on about 2% of the roads in the city.
“Some of the top ones obviously would be the Whiskey Road corridor,” said Multrie. “We have some other areas that are sort of within our county, city interfaces around Rutland Drive and York Street.”
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But the goal is to put a stop to any traffic-related death or injury.
“I’ve seen a few things that I like,” said Hendrix. “I’ve seen some places where they’re talking about new medians. Maybe a new traffic signal here or there would help funnel people into safer turns. Left turns are always dangerous, and you know, especially in high traffic areas.”
The city says that to make it happen, they need your help.
“We can analyze data all day long, but if it’s not really affecting the people that have to live in our city, then you know what’s the point?” said Multrie.
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