• Benton County Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP)

    Benton County Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP)

    Online Open House #2

  • Welcome!

  • Welcome to the second online open house for the Benton County Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP). Benton County is creating this plan to make roads safer for everyone—whether you walk, bike, roll, take transit, or drive.

    In this open house, you’ll see how crash data and community feedback from the spring helped shape a set of transportation projects and potential strategies to reduce serious and fatal crashes. You’ll also have the chance to share your thoughts on the recommended projects and proposed solutions.

    We will collect feedback through this online open house through November 25.

    This online open house includes the following sections:

    1. Project Overview
    2. Safe System Approach
    3. The Process
    4. High Priority Projects
    5. Improving Biking Safety on Key Rural Roads
    6. Countywide Safety Strategies
    7. Next Steps

  • A road with school zone speed limit signs and trucks driving on the road.

  • You can move through the sections in order by clicking “Next” at the bottom of each page or go directly to a section using the navigation buttons at the top. Be sure to click “Submit” at the end to record your feedback.

  • Project Overview 

  • Benton County is working to make roads safer for everyone. With federal funding from the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, the Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP) aims to reduce serious and fatal crashes by analyzing data, identifying high-risk areas, and recommending safety improvements.

  • A key focus is improving safety for trucks and bikes on rural corridors like Springhill Drive, Independence Highway, Fern Road, and Bellfountain Road. The City of Corvallis is currently putting together a TSAP for city streets. The County and the City are coordinating efforts to ensure a unified regional approach to road safety.

  • A long shot of a rural roadway.

  • Safe System Approach 

  • The development of the TSAP will follow the US Department of Transportation’s Safe System Approach icon this link opens in a new tab

    The Safe System Approach works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to both prevent crashes from happening in the first place and minimize the harm caused to those involved when crashes do occur. This is a shift from a conventional safety approach because it focuses on both human mistakes AND human vulnerability to design a system with many redundancies in place to protect everyone.

  • A diagram of the Department of Transportation Safe System Approach.

    Click the image to enlarge in a new tab.

  • The Process

  • The locations for targeted safety improvements and countywide strategies were identified through a multi-step process. This started by reviewing crash data to identify patterns and trends, then incorporated community feedback gathered last spring, risk factors, and demographic information.

  • Finally, our project Advisory Committee ranked the locations and trends based on the potential to have the biggest impact on eliminating crashes that result in serious injuries and fatalities with limited resources.

    The feedback we received last spring along with the crash data helped confirm where the highest priority areas should be. We also received additional feedback for other locations and concerns that the County will consider in future project planning efforts.

  • A long shot of a rural roadway.

  • High Priority Projects

  • These projects focus on the roads and intersections where serious and fatal crashes happen most often. The recommendations include both lower-cost fixes (like clearer signs and road markings) and larger projects (such as widening shoulders, adding sidewalks or bike lanes, or upgrading intersections). While these projects are not yet funded, completing the Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP) makes the County eligible to apply for federal safety grants to help move them forward.

  • Click on specific project locations below to learn more.

    Project locations:

    • Independence Highway
    • Independence Highway at Ryals Avenue
    • Independence Highway (US20 to Springhill Drive)
    • Bellfountain Road at Airport Avenue and Llewellyn Road Intersections
    • Sulphur Springs Road (Forest Springs Lane to Wildview Place)
    • Springhill Drive (Westminster Way to Albany UGB)
    • Springhill Drive (Ferguson Drive to North Albany UGB)
    • Fern Road (Powderhouse Road North to Powderhouse Road South)
    • West Hills Road (Reservoir Avenue to 19th Street)

  • Independence Highway – Systemic Safety Improvements (Springhill Dr to US 20)

    Independence Highway is a busy rural road with fast-moving traffic and narrow shoulders.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 34 crashes
    • 13 involved serious injuries at intersections
    • Many happened when drivers left the roadway

    Proposed improvements:

    • Bigger, easier-to-see stop and warning signs at intersections
    • Rumble strips in the center of the road to alert drivers if they drift
    • Wider and profiled edge lines to make the road more visible
    • Smoother shoulders so drivers can recover safely if they veer off the road

  • Independence Highway at Ryals Avenue

    This intersection has limited visibility because of curves in the highway, making it hard to see oncoming traffic when turning.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 6 crashes
    • 1 involved a serious injury
    • Most crashes happened when drivers were turning

    Proposed improvements:

    • Install lighting at the intersection
    • Flatten the vertical curves on Independence Highway to improve sight lines
    • Add a left-turn lane for northbound traffic
    • Make gravel lot driveway in NW corner more defined

  • Independence Highway (US 20 to Springhill Dr)

    This stretch of Independence Highway is used heavily by trucks and has narrow shoulders.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 34 crashes total
    • 16 crashes along the segment (not including intersections)
    • Many involved drivers leaving the road and hitting fixed objects

    Proposed improvements:

    • Widen shoulders so there is more space for drivers and people biking
    • Flatten side slopes and remove or shield roadside hazards where possible
    • Improve pavement edges and markings to enhance recoverability and visibility

  • Bellfountain Road – Airport Ave & Llewellyn Rd Intersections

    Bellfountain Road has high speed traffic and both of these intersections have some visibility issues and minor offset lane alignments that may contribute to drivers failing to yield.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 12 crashes combined at the two intersections
    • 2 serious injury crashes (Llewellyn)
    • Many involved drivers failing to stop/yield

    Proposed improvements:

    • Clear vegetation and other obstacles to improve visibility
    • Realign lanes so roads meet at safer angles
    • Adjust pavement striping to better guide drivers

  • Sulphur Springs Road (Forest Springs Ln to Wildview Pl)

    Sulphur Springs Road is a rural, winding road with no shoulders. Most crashes here happen in curves.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 8 crashes total
    • 6 involved drivers leaving the roadway
    • 1 involved a pedestrian and 1 involved a bicyclist

    Proposed improvements:

    • Add chevron signs and reflectors on curves
    • Wider and profiled edge lines to make the road more visible
    • High-friction pavement on curves for better grip
    • Radar speed feedback signs in curve areas

  • Springhill Drive (Westminster Way to Albany UGB)

    This part of Springhill Drive is flat but has several curves where crashes are common. This road is often used by people biking, but high speeds make it feel unsafe to share the road with traffic.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 23 crashes total
    • 20 involved vehicles leaving the roadway
    • 4 serious injury crashes

    Proposed improvements:

    • Add chevron signs and reflectors on curves
    • Wider and profiled edge lines to make the road more visible
    • High-friction pavement on curves for better grip
    • Guardrails to shield roadside hazards and in high-risk curves
    • Optical speed bars and radar speed feedback signs to slow drivers

  • Springhill Drive (Ferguson Dr to North Albany UGB)

    Although this section is inside Albany city limits, it still looks and functions like a rural road, with no sidewalks and limited shoulders. The posted speed is 40 mph.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 4 crashes
    • 1 serious injury crash near Ferguson Drive

    Proposed improvements:

    • Update the road to urban standards to alert drivers to the urban environment (add sidewalks and bike lanes)

  • Fern Road (Powderhouse Rd North to Powderhouse Rd South)

    This section of Fern Road is narrow and hilly with sharp curves and very little shoulder space. All crashes happened in the curves.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 3 crashes
    • 1 fatal crash and 2 injury crashes

    Proposed improvements:

    • Add centerline rumble strips and wider, profiled edge lines
    • Flatten side slopes and install guardrails to shield hazards
    • Radar speed feedback signs at each end of the curve section

  • West Hills Road (Reservoir Ave to 19th St)

    This road connects Corvallis and Philomath and carries commuter traffic. It has a history of serious crashes, including head-on collisions.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 15 crashes total
    • 2 fatal crashes and 1 serious injury crash

    Proposed improvements:

    • Wider edge lines and centerline rumble strips
    • Radar speed feedback signs to reduce speeding
    • A possible left-turn lane at Rosecrest Drive to prevent rear-end crashes

  • Back to top ↑

  • Improving Safety on Key Rural Roads 

  • Some rural roads in Benton County are used by both heavy trucks and people biking, which can create safety challenges. These roads often have high speeds, narrow shoulders, and sharp curves that make it difficult for everyone to share the space safely.

    Earlier this year, the project team studied four of these roads—Independence Highway, Springhill Drive, Bellfountain Road, and Fern Road—using traffic and crash data, along with feedback from community members, farmers, truck drivers, and bicyclists. Based on this analysis, the County is focusing on two roads for the most impactful safety improvements: Springhill Drive in the north and Bellfountain Road in the south.

  • Springhill Drive

    Springhill Drive is a narrow two-lane road north of Albany with limited shoulders and several curves where crashes are common. People biking often avoid this road because of fast-moving traffic and poor visibility around corners.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 63 crashes total
    • 6 serious injury crashes
    • 32 involved a vehicle leaving the roadway
    • 2 crashes involved people biking

    Proposed improvements:

    • Widen shoulders in key areas so people biking can move out of traffic lanes
    • Add a radar-based warning system that alerts drivers when a bicycle is ahead in a curve
    • Coordinate with other safety measures already planned for this corridor, such as speed feedback signs

  • Bellfountain Road

    Bellfountain Road connects rural communities and is heavily used by log trucks and local traffic. North of Airport Avenue, the shoulders are wide enough for biking, but south of that point they become very narrow, creating safety concerns.

    Key crash trends (2018–2022):

    • 40 crashes total
    • 3 serious injury crashes
    • 15 involved a vehicle leaving the roadway

    Proposed improvements:

    • Continue shoulder widening south of Airport Avenue to Llewellyn Road
    • Build a shared-use path for people walking and biking between Chapel Drive and Llewellyn Road (may be phased due to cost)
    • Explore alternatives, such as converting nearby rail right-of-way into shared-use path, if feasible

  • Countywide Safety Strategies 

  • In addition to the priority projects at specific locations, Benton County is focusing strategies on five key characteristics most often associated with crashes that lead to serious injuries or fatalities. These strategies will guide safety improvements across the whole road network.

    While the high priority projects focus on specific roads and intersections, the Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP) also looks at broader safety strategies that can apply across the whole county. This reflects the Safe System Approach, which emphasizes that road safety is about more than just building infrastructure. It takes a holistic view, combining roadway design, education, enforcement, and community partnerships to create multiple layers of protection. The goal is to prevent crashes when possible, and to reduce the chances of death or serious injury if crashes do happen.

    Benton County has identified five emphasis areas to focus on strategy development:

    • Roadway and lane departures – crashes where drivers run off the road or cross into oncoming traffic
    • Risky behaviors – speeding, distracted driving, and drug- or alcohol-impaired driving
    • Intersections – where many of the most serious crashes occur
    • Aging drivers (65+) – who are more likely to be involved in severe crashes
    • Bicyclists – who are especially vulnerable on higher-speed and narrow rural roads

  • Roadway and Lane Departures

    Nearly 1 in 4 crashes involved a driver leaving their lane. Almost half of serious crashes were roadway departures.

    Proposed strategies:

    • Add chevron signs and delineators on curves
    • Widen shoulders and improve edge-line visibility
    • Install centerline rumble strips
    • Improve reflective road markings and remove roadside obstacles
    • Add dynamic speed feedback signs and high friction surfaces along curves

    Risky Behaviors (Impairment, Distraction, Speeding)

    Risky driving behaviors were involved in 1 in 5 crashes. Speeding contributed to 11% of all crashes and 17% of serious ones.

    Proposed strategies:

    • Install speed feedback signs and set appropriate speed limits
    • Conduct high-visibility patrols for impaired or distracted driving
    • Run education campaigns about speeding and impairment
    • Partner with local organizations to provide safe ride options after events
    • Support a robust communication network for emergency service response
    • Prioritize collision avoidance technology in County fleet vehicles

    Intersections

    Half of all crashes happened at intersections. Over one-third of serious and fatal crashes occurred at these locations.

    Proposed strategies:

    • Improve lighting and visibility
    • Add flashing beacons or oversized stop signs
    • Install rumble strips near stop-controlled intersections
    • Use “Stop Ahead” pavement markings
    • Remove sightline obstructions
    • Convert minor stop-controlled intersections to roundabouts

    Aging Drivers

    Older drivers (65+) were in 11% of all crashes and 25% of serious ones. 1 in 4 crashes involving older drivers happened at stop-controlled intersections.

    Proposed strategies:

    • Improve lighting, sign reflectivity, and pavement markings
    • Offer driver refresher courses and medical review programs
    • Promote alternatives to driving, like BAT Lift
    • Educate about features in vehicles that help older drivers

    Bicyclists

    Bike crashes made up 3% of all crashes and 4% of severe ones. Most occurred at intersections or along roads with narrow shoulders.

    Proposed strategies:

    • Add bike lanes in towns and widen shoulders on rural roads
    • Install bicycle warning or radar-activated alert signs along key routes
    • Promote safety education campaigns for riders and drivers
    • Host bike skills events (e.g., clinics, bike fairs, bike rodeos)

  • Together, these strategies ensure the TSAP is not just a list of projects, but a comprehensive safety plan that addresses safety from all angles to make Benton County’s roads safer for everyone.

  • Next Steps

  • Thank you for participating in the online open house!

  • Your feedback will help shape the final Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP). After this round of engagement, the project team will finalize the plan and present it to the Benton County Board of Commissioners for review and approval. With an approved plan, the County will then be eligible to apply for federal safety grants and other funding to move these proposed projects and strategies forward.

  • A busy street with businesses, pedestrians walking on the sidewalk, and midday vehicle traffic.

  • To learn more about the City of Corvallis’ Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Project, including the development of their TSAP for city streets, visit corvallisoregon.gov/SS4A icon this link opens in a new tab

     For more information on Benton County's TSAP, visit bentoncountyor.gov/TSAP icon this link opens in a new tab

    Be sure to click “Submit” below to share your feedback from the previous sections.

  • Demographic Questions (Optional)

  • The following questions are optional and will help us understand who we are hearing from and whether we are reaching a wide range of people in the community. The identity of individuals is kept confidential. The results are reported as totals only and will be used solely to help improve future community engagement.

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