County Executive Adam Bello Announces First In The State Community Traffic Safety Team

October 25th, 2024

Monroe County Residents can now voice traffic concerns via Online Portal or Phone

View Full Press Release (PDF)

In recognition of National Pedestrian Safety Month, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello unveiled New York State's first Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST). Comprised of the Monroe County Department of Public Safety (DPS), Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Planning and Development, the CTST will work collaboratively with federal, state, city and local governments, law enforcement, non-profit and faith-based organizations, neighborhood associations and the public to tackle traffic safety issues across Monroe County.

Starting today, Monroe County residents can submit traffic safety concerns with a new online portal at monroecounty.gov/ts for review by the Community Traffic Safety Team. The team will convene quarterly to address pressing traffic concerns and develop comprehensive, data-driven and multidisciplinary solutions and recommendations.

"On average, 47 people are killed in traffic crashes on roads throughout Monroe County each year and more than 5,000 are injured. This is a serious problem and one we are committed to addressing," said County Executive Bello. "Community input is key to improving the safety of our roads. I encourage our residents to voice concerns on our new portal and improve safety in their neighborhoods. Thank you to the County's Departments of Public Safety, Transportation, and Planning for working together to ensure safer roads."

The team will analyze traffic data, review public feedback and assess roadway designs including sidewalks, crosswalks, shared-use paths and trails. In addition, they will focus on promoting public awareness campaigns to enhance adherence to traffic laws.

After reviewing the data and community input alongside relevant stakeholders specific to each concern, the team will provide recommendations on actionable steps to mitigate traffic hazards for both drivers and pedestrians. They will also provide connections to the Monroe County Traffic Safety Board that can explore state and federal grant programs to help municipalities secure funding for traffic safety improvements.

"The Community Traffic Safety Team process will allow us to work collectively with public safety partners and seek input from the public. The general public can provide first-hand information and traffic concerns that allow us to assess and evaluate the situation," said Chief Richard Tantalo, Director of the Monroe County Department of Public Safety. "Any successful program requires community engagement and the technology available to us will allow community interaction. With the assistance of our public safety partners, we can collaborate more effectively."

"I'm proud to support the launch of this program, which puts Monroe County families first by making our roads safer through the Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST), the first of its kind in New York State," said Legislator Paul Dondorfer. "For neighbors like mine, we need only look to Empire Boulevard, where nearly 800 accidents have devastated countless families. We owe it to them to act now. Through the CTST, we're not just talking about safety-we're directly listening to residents and turning their concerns into real solutions."

"To me, this initiative is not just about collecting concerns, it's about fostering collaboration between citizens, local authorities, and law enforcement to create safer roads for everyone," said Legislator Dave Long. "I applaud the creation of the state's first Community Traffic Safety Team here in our county and, together, we can continue building a safer environment for our families, friends, and neighbors."

"At Reconnect Rochester, we believe that safer streets are critical to creating mobility options that are inclusive and equitable. We are excited about Monroe County's expanded focus on traffic safety that will invite citizens to be part of solutions for street-level issues. Monroe County residents see and experience traffic safety issues every day on our streets, and will appreciate a conduit to report concerns like street design/infrastructure needs and unsafe driver behavior. Along with the City of Rochester's recent commitment to Vision Zero, this Monroe County Community Traffic Safety Team will be an important piece to making our streets safer for all people," said Cody Donahue, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Reconnect Rochester.

Residents are encouraged to submit pedestrian and traffic safety concerns via the new online portal at https://www.monroecounty.gov/ts and click the "Submit Traffic Safety Concerns" tab or leave a message by calling 585-753-3200.

Concerns submitted by November 30 will be reviewed at the Community Traffic Safety Team's January meeting.