MOLINE, Ill. — Accidents happen every day, but a new initiative is empowering local residents to help prevent them. The Traffic Safety Action Plan, led by the Bi-State Regional Commission, is giving locals in the Quad Cities, Muscatine and Kewanee a voice in identifying dangerous roadways.
The Bi-State Regional Commission unites local governments across five counties in Illinois and Iowa to focus on regional planning and problem-solving. Through the Traffic Safety Action Plan, residents can submit concerns about hazardous intersections and dangerous road conditions via an interactive online map.
Gary Bradley, the city manager of Kewanee, emphasized the importance of public input in addressing road safety. “It’s important to get public input because we need to know what they’re seeing,” Bradley said.
The interactive map allows residents to pin locations they believe pose safety risks. For example, the intersection at 12th Avenue and 34th Street in Moline has already received three reports, with people suggesting a stoplight or roundabout to replace the current stop signs.
Gena McCullough, Deputy Director for the Bi-State Regional Commission, shared that the goal of the project is to involve the community in finding solutions. “We want them to be informed, we want them to inform us, and we want them to be part of the solution,” McCullough said. The overarching aim is to reduce the number of fatal car crashes in the region.
Once a report is submitted, city officials review it and decide whether changes need to be made. These changes could range from reducing speed limits to widening streets.
“It’s their government, it’s their project, they’re their roads, and safety is important to them,” Bradley added.
The Bi-State Regional Commission is hosting two public Traffic Safety Group sessions, one at the Moline Public Library on November 19th and another at the Davenport Public Library on Nov. 20. These sessions offer another opportunity for locals to provide input and learn more about the project.
If you’d like to submit a traffic report in your town, visit here.
