FORT SMITH, Ark. — The City of Fort Smith hosted a "Safe Fort Smith" community meeting on June 12, where the city unveiled a plan to help improve roads.
Fort Smith was recently awarded a grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Safe Streets for All program.
"In August of 2022 our Board of Directors adopted a Vision Zero policy for the City of Fort Smith, where we committed to eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by the year of 2050 or sooner," said Michael Mings, Mobility Coordinator for the City of Fort Smith. "We were awarded that [grant] in 2022 and we were able to get on board with Burns and McDonnell in 2023 to begin the planning process and identify those areas and opportunities for safety improvements in the city."
At Wednesday's meeting, the city allowed the public to come out and learn more about safety trends, give thoughts on how the city can improve safety, and share input on safety priorities.
"I think the city has gone through a lot of trauma in certain areas from people who have been hit and killed and seriously injured," Mings explained. "For us to evaluate these high injury corridors and really commit to improving safety, I think it's going to go a long way for the quality of life for people."
Mings said he believes everyone deserves to feel safe on the roads in the city, even if you don't have a vehicle.
"One of the big focuses of this plan is equity," Mings said. "Not everybody has a car, not everybody can afford a vehicle. And so if we can create a built environment in Fort Smith where people don't have to have a vehicle to get around, then I think we've done a really good job of making Fort Smith an affordable place to live and to call home."
Improvements could look like more lighting in intersections and adding facilities for mobility.
"A lot of people are seeing the rapid flashing beacons now at pedestrian crossings and more pedestrian islands on areas like Grand Avenue," Mings said. "These things go a long way for creating safe conditions where people feel like walking and riding bikes are a more viable option for them, perhaps getting them out of their car and just taking a trip by foot or by bike."
The Fort Smith Board of Directors will vote to adopt this plan in July.
"We're really trying to let the public know that we're committed to improving safety in the city," Mings said.
Priority locations for future safety improvements in the city include
- Garrison Ave. from 2nd St. to 14 St.
- Rogers Ave. from 46th St. to 79th St.
- Grand Ave. from 21st St. to 37th St.
- Kelley Highway & 50th St.
- Townson Ave. from Phoenix Ave. to Raleigh St.
- Jenny Lind Road from Jackson St. to Louisville St.
- Rogers Ave. & Albert Pike Ave.
- Park Ave. from N. Greenwood Ave. to N.35th St.
- Kelley Highway & 32nd St.
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