The Permian Basin MPO reported a reduction in crashes like this from 2019 in Midland.
James Durbin / Midland Reporter-The Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is reporting a 23.25 percent reduction in fatalities and a 30.66 percent reduction in crashes affecting vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians over three years in its Midland-Odessa urban area.
Permian Basin MPO staff presented the study of road safety trends in the Midland-Odessa urban area covering the period 2019-2021 at a Jan. 18 meeting of the policy board. The report included total crashes by year, type of crash, fatalities, and contributing factors in the MPO urban boundary, which includes the majority of Midland and Ector counties and a portion of western Martin County.
Policy Board Chair Debi Hays stated, “The MPO Board has been very instrumental in moving the priority of various projects which has decreased the fatality rate in the Permian Basin. Our mission will continue to be saving the lives of others today and always. I am proud of the work we have accomplished while serving as the MPO Chair.”
Policy Board Vice-Chair Jack Ladd Jr. indicated that he “credits the MPO staff and board for their tireless commitment to safety. While the rest of the country has trended upwards in accidents, West Texas has seen a steady decline.”
Since 2018 the MPO Policy Board has committed to support TxDOT with the statewide problem of vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian crashes and fatalities. The Permian Basin MPO has dedicated its funding resources toward this effort by programming important projects in locations along east Loop 250 in Midland, east Loop 338 in Odessa, State Highway 191 between the two cities and on I-20.
Example of projects supported by the MPO that are anticipated to have an immediate positive effect on safety include the interchanges on Loop 250 at County Road 1150/County Road 60; Loop 338 at US 385 in north Odessa and Loop 338 at East Yukon.
Other important safety investments were the addition of traffic signals, a complete regrading and reorientation of Loop 338 at 52nd and 56th streets in east Odessa, safety barricades along State Highway 191, Business 20, I-20, and Loop 250, Loop 338 and a future installation on SH 302 from Loop 338 West. The conversion of frontage roads from two-way to one-way will reduce crashes and save lives along the I-20 corridor. Additionally, TxDOT has installed a vehicular over height detection system on I-20 at the east and west sides of the MPO boundary to mitigate bridge strikes. This system will be activated in the near future.
The MPO serves as the federally mandated regional transportation planning agency managing the cooperative, comprehensive and continuing processes regarding federal, state, local entities, and regional stakeholders. Important work led by the MPO recently includes a 24-county Freight study, which contained a significant concentration toward regional safety. On-going work includes an Outer Loop study, a resiliency plan and a bicycle/pedestrian corridor facility connecting the two cities. For further information please go to www.permianbasinmpo.com.