TRANSPORTATION UPDATES TxDOT declares 2021 second-deadliest year for Texas roadways; tra c deaths up 15% over 2020
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ONGOING PROJECTS
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The Texas Department of Trans- portation sent out a news release in March detailing its ndings that are part of a larger issue nationwide: Roadways are becoming increasingly deadly. TxDOT reported there were more than 4,480 deaths on Texas roads in 2021, only a little behind 1981, the deadliest year to date with over 4,701 deaths. Roadway deaths are also on the rise nationwide. O cials reported an estimated 20,160 people died from vehicular crashes in the rst half of 2021, 18.4% higher than in 2020. Texas saw an increase of almost 15% from 2020-21. TxDOT elaborated on the shared responsibility among Texas drivers, roadway engineers and law enforce- ment to reduce the number of deaths on Texas roads. “Driver behavior is one of the causes but also one of the most important solutions,” Transportation Commissioner Laura Ryan said in a news release. “This is not blame. These are facts. We all have a role. TxDOT can do more, and we accept that responsibility. The driving public can do more. For instance, in 2021, a total of 1,522 people were killed because of speed, and a total of 1,219 were killed because they were not wearing a seat belt. These were decisions made by people that could have potentially saved 2,741 lives.” Art Markman, a psychology professor at The University of Texas, informed TxDOT leaders and trans- portation stakeholders at the annual
TRAFFIC TRAGEDIES While most tra c crashes did not result in injuries, thousands of Texans died
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Grissom Road widening Contractors have begun a project to widen Grissom Road in League City between Abigail Lane and West NASA Road from two to four lanes. The westbound lanes will be built rst, followed by the eastbound lanes. As part of the project, street drainage will be improved, and contractors will install a new 12-inch water line from the city’s north booster station to West NASA Road. Timeline: April 2022-April 2023 Cost: $8.53 million Funding source: city of League City
or faced serious injuries on the roads in 2021. Reported vehicle crashes in Texas in 2021
Noninjuries
1.07M
137.4K Possible injuries 100.4K Unknown injuries
“WE MUST DO BETTER FOR OURSELVES, OUR LOVED ONES AND OUR LARGER COMMUNITY OF TEXANS.” LAURA RYAN, TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER
82.5K Suspected minor injuries 19.4K Suspected serious injuries
UPCOMING PROJECTS
4.5K Fatalities
HOBBS RD.
SOURCE: TEXAS PEACE OFFICER’S CRASH REPORTS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Texas Transportation Forum in February about coronavirus-related pressures that have had a negative impact on Texas roadways. “We have to remind people that they are part of a community,” Markman said. “We have to start considering everyone as part of our community. If we don’t do that, there are going to be all sorts of negative consequences, and those are going to include negative consequences on the road.” The release provided information on initiatives TxDOT is researching and studying before implementing to aid in roadway safety. Some of the initiatives include tra c safety cam- paigns and law enforcement funding grants as well as proven life-saving
Over 20 years of Dedication. Integrity. Passion. Service. Consistency. Whether you are buying or selling, we look forward to assisting you with every step of the process. roadway designs. TxDOT is also reviewing crash data to identify areas where drivers are more likely to crash and will use its ndings to focus improvement initiatives on those areas and share the data with the driving population. O cials within the agency believe the implementation of the above ini- tiatives and focusing on engineering and enforcement will greatly reduce the number of deaths on Texas roads. “But make no mistake: This is an urgent call to action for all of us behind the wheel,” Ryan said. “We can do bet- ter. We should do better. We must do better—for ourselves, our loved ones and our larger community of Texans. Not a single death on our roadways is acceptable. Let’s end this streak.”
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ALL INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE WAS UPDATED AS OF APRIL 25. NEWS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE OR OTHER LOCAL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS? EMAIL US AT BAYNEWS COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM. Hobbs Road extension to FM 517 Hobbs Road will be extended to the south to connect with FM 517. The new road will be about 1,880 feet long and four lanes wide, though League City will construct only the two south- bound lanes. Timeline: fall 2023-TBD Cost: $3.93 million Funding source: city of League City
Kimberly Harding, Broker/Owner 281-554-7653 Kimberly@KimberlyHarding.com
2490 Calder Dr, League City, TX 77573 | www.TheKimberlyHardingGroup.com
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BAY AREA EDITION • MAY 2022
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