SS4A Supplemental Planning & Demonstration Projects - Alachua County

Proof of Concept: Planning and Demonstration Projects for Vulnerable Road Users in Gainesville – Alachua County

Alachua County, FL, and its County seat, the City of Gainesville, have partnered to identify supplemental planning and demonstration activities to inform grants to improve safety for vulnerable road users (VRUs). Subject projects address County-maintained roadways within the City of Gainesville. According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) highway safety matrices, Gainesville, FL, ranks 9th among Florida cities for traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries, and 8th for crashes involving vulnerable road users – exceeding its population rank (of 13th) for both measures.

Current Alachua County and City of Gainesville initiatives to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries include a focus on VRU safety and providing an equitable transportation system for all road users. The City of Gainesville has an adopted Vision Zero Action Plan and is the recipient of a Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) Implementation Grant for one of its primary High Crash Corridors. Alachua County is currently working on a comprehensive Bicycle-Pedestrian Master Plan and a SS4A funded Action Plan. This SS4A grant will support existing safe systems work by funding two distinct advanced planning studies and demonstration projects, both of which are needed to catalyze safe systems development within underserved communities.

Location: Alachua County is located in North Central Florida. The County government seat is situated in Gainesville. Gainesville is located 70 miles southwest of Jacksonville, 129 miles southeast of Tallahassee, 140 miles northeast of Tampa - St. Petersburg and 109 miles northwest of Orlando. Alachua County has a population of over 250,000 and a regional airport. The County itself consists of a total area of 969 square miles.

Form of Government: Alachua County is governed by a Board of five (5) elected County Commissioners and operates under the established County Manager Charter form of government. In addition to the five County Commissioners, there are five elected Constitutional Officers: Supervisor of Elections, Sheriff, Clerk of the Court, Tax Collector, and the Property Appraiser. The Alachua County Attorney also reports to the Board.