Pinal County Transportation Safety Plan 2024

The Pinal County Strategic Transportation Safety Plan (STSP) updates the 2019 STSP and addresses the necessary steps and elements, from a regional transportation planning perspective, to reduce the risk of death and serious injury to all transportation users in Pinal County.

We Need Your Input!!

The Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is providing a preliminary DRAFT copy of the Pinal County STSP for public review and comment.  The public comment period runs from January 16, 2025, through February 15, 2025.

Public comments may be submitted in writing by 10:00 a.m. on February 15, 2025, to Jason Bottjen, jbottjen@scmpo.org. Please use Pinal County Strategic Transportation Safety Plan Update 2024 – Public Comment as the subject line.

This STSP establishes a framework for reducing fatal and serious injury crashes on public roads in Pinal County by identifying crash trends, emphasis areas, performance measures, high‐risk crash locations, funding resources, and potential projects.

Vision: “STRIVING FOR ZERO DEATHS – One is too many!”
Goal: “Reduce serious injuries and deaths on public roads within Pinal County by 20% by 2030.”

A crash analysis was performed for Pinal County based on the most recent 5 years of available crash data: January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022. Over this period, 22,429 crashes were reported, with 360 fatalities, and 10,473 injuries in Pinal County. The following highlights the crash trend and crash characteristics:

  • Intersection crashes account for the highest number of fatal plus serious injury crashes at 43%
  • Unrestrained (no safety device used) crashes represent the second highest number of fatal plus serious injury crashes at 41%
  • Nighttime crashes represent the third highest number of fatal plus serious injury crashes at 39%
  • Of the 178 pedestrian-involved crashes, 20% resulted in fatalities, while 23% were reported as suspected serious injuries
  • Of the 198 bicycle-involved crashes, 3% resulted in fatalities, while 17% were reported as suspected serious injuries
  • “Speed Too Fast For Conditions” and “Failed To Yield Right Of Way” are the top crash violations in the County

The most common manners of collision in all crashes in the County were rear end (32%), single vehicle (24%), and angle (12%).

Emphasis areas represent the crash types and trends in the County that see a high frequency of fatal and serious injury crashes. Directing safety initiatives toward these specific areas helps to achieve the STSP vision.  The following emphasis areas were identified for Pinal County:

  • Behavior Related: Speeding, Impaired Driving, Unrestrained (Not Wearing Seat Belt)
  • Intersection
  • Lane Departure
  • Nighttime
  • Age-related: Under 25, Over 64

The STSP identified priority intersections and segments using a weighted system based on crash frequency and severity, resulting in a score for each location. Priority areas for the network screening were established from the highest-scoring locations within each jurisdiction.

The Safe System Approach (SSA) was utilized in developing strategies to improve transportation safety in the County.  SSA is based on the principles that the human body is vulnerable, humans make mistakes, and it is unacceptable that these mistakes result in death and injury. The SSA employs strategies that revolve around the fundamental elements of Safe Roads, Safe Speeds, Safe Road Users, Safe Vehicles, and Post-Crash Care.

Using input from stakeholders, the public, crash data analysis, network screening, and individual agency input, potential safety projects within the County were identified. The projects are intended to improve safety and further the County’s safety goals.

Sun Corridor MPO in partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG), Central Arizona Governments (CAG), Pinal County, Gila River Indian Community, Ak-Chin Indian Community, City of Casa Grande, City of Florence, Town of Queen Creek, City of Coolidge, City of Maricopa, City of Eloy, and City of Apache Junction, led the development of the Pinal County STSP.

Pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and other nondiscrimination laws and authorities, the Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (SCMPO) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Persons that require a reasonable accommodation based on language or disability should contact Irene Higgs, SCMPO’s Title VI Coordinator at ihiggs@scmpo.org or (520)705-5143. Requests should be made at least 48 hours prior to the meeting so that accommodations may be arranged.

En conformidad con el Título VI del Decreto de los Derechos Civiles de 1964, el Decreto de Americanos con Discapacidades (ADA por sus siglas en inglés), y otras leyes y autoridades contra la discriminación, la organización de planificación metropolitana Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (SCMPO por sus siglas en inglés) no discrimina basándose en raza, color, origen nacional, género/sexo, edad o discapacidad. Las personas que requieran una adaptación razonable basada en idioma o discapacidad se deben comunicar con Irene Higgs, Coordinadora del Título VI de SCMPO en ihiggs@scmpo.org ó llamando al (520)705-5143. Las solicitudes se deben hacer por lo menos 48 horas antes de la reunión para que se puedan organizar las adaptaciones.