VCPWA Receives Grant to Enhance County’s Traffic Safety Systems

To fill a critical need for the collection and coordination of traffic collision data across all of the county’s jurisdictions, Ventura County Public Works Agency’s Transportation Department will receive funding to implement a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based traffic collision database that will compile and store data in a timely and accurate countywide basis. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The GIS traffic collision database, which will be shared by all police departments, public works departments, and traffic engineers, will have the tools necessary to perform analysis on traffic collision data patterns not only on a countywide scale but also on an individual agency basis. In addition, this database will help various agencies throughout the county to work together in providing better solutions for the community.

“With the lack of such regional traffic collisions data, regional traffic collision problems are very difficult to identify, coordinate and implement joint solutions among separate agencies,” said David Fleisch, Director of the VCPWA Transportation Department. “This database will not only help us to alleviate those problems but it also allows us to develop projects that will enhance the county’s traffic safety.”

The OTS, which annually provides grants for various projects, has awarded $223,575 to VCPWA’s Transportation Department with a deadline of 12 months to fulfill the scope of work for the project.