A major portion of the discussions revolved around the updated safety performance measures and the persistent challenge of rising fatalities in Pasco County. Data presented during the meeting revealed a 2% increase in fatalities, contrasting with a slight decline at the state level. The increase is attributed partly to the pandemic’s onset in 2020, with 2023 being the first year to include pre-pandemic data in the five-year rolling average. Despite a decrease in serious injuries, the uptick in fatalities highlighted the need for more targeted interventions.

Debates ensued over the utility of the five-year rolling average as a tool for assessing safety improvements. One participant questioned its effectiveness, arguing it obscures yearly trends that could shed light on the impacts of specific safety enhancements. It was suggested that a deeper dive into the data could reveal whether certain intersections or corridors were disproportionately contributing to the rise in fatalities. This sentiment was echoed by others who called for more analysis to unravel the causes behind these trends.

In response to the fatality increase, the board discussed adopting a safe system approach, a model promoted by the Florida Department of Transportation. This framework emphasizes community engagement, educational initiatives, and management strategies to improve safety outcomes. The Pasco County MPO’s project prioritization is informed by the Safe Streets and Roads for All action plan, which aims to reduce fatalities and injuries by 10% in the coming year, despite the recent uptick.

An essential component of the meeting was the examination of the “high injury network,” a mapping project identifying roads with elevated fatal and severe injury crash levels. Approximately 2.5% of the county’s roadways account for more than half of these incidents, allowing for focused intervention strategies. Discussions emphasized the need to assess corridors, rather than just intersections, particularly where safety infrastructure such as sidewalks is lacking.

Participants highlighted the importance of understanding crash contexts, including factors like speed, distraction, aggression, and substance use. The implementation of safety improvements during planned projects was discussed as a proactive measure to reduce future risks without incurring substantial additional costs. The meeting also underscored the potential of leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline the evaluation of crash data and inform actionable safety strategies.

Beyond traffic safety, the meeting touched on the proposed merger of the Tampa Bay Regional MPOs. Updates on municipal representation within the merged board were provided, with discussions about a rotating municipal seat proposal to ensure fair representation for smaller municipalities. The Sun Coast League of Cities has convened to address coordinated positions and communications among municipalities, with the upcoming Tampa Bay TMA meeting expected to finalize details regarding the governor’s board structure and small cities’ representation.

The complexities of merging the MPO with the Regional Planning Council were also discussed, focusing on legislative recodification to accommodate the new structure. The importance of flexibility in choosing membership was stressed, particularly in addressing emerging issues from growth and infrastructure projects.

In addition to these strategic discussions, the meeting included updates from Go Pasco on improvements to the Intelligent Transportation System, enhancing ADA compliance at bus stops, and collaboration with Zephyrhills for transit service enhancements. The Safety Action Plan was introduced. Engineering and non-engineering strategies were discussed.

The meeting wrapped up with community engagement efforts highlighted, including workshops, popup events, and an online survey revealing public concerns about road safety, particularly for non-vehicle users. The commencement of the inaugural active transportation plan was announced, aiming to improve connectivity for walking, biking, and micromobility across the county. This phase will involve data collection and analysis to identify safety gaps and priority corridors, alongside public stakeholder engagement efforts.