Why This Work Matters in Orleans County

Traffic crashes have real and lasting impacts on Orleans County residents, families, and communities. Serious injuries and fatal crashes occur on county and local roads each year, often along routes people depend on for daily travel, including commuting, school trips, and access to essential services.

In a rural county like Orleans, crashes can be more severe due to higher travel speeds, long stretches between destinations, and limited lighting on many roadways. Seasonal travel patterns, including tourism and agricultural activity, can also introduce additional safety challenges.

While these risks are significant, many serious crashes are preventable. By identifying where crashes occur, understanding contributing factors, and focusing on the highest-risk locations, Orleans County and its municipalities can take meaningful, data-informed steps to improve roadway safety.

This effort supports the development of a Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP) for Orleans County as part of the federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) program. The LRSP provides a structured, strategic approach to identifying high-risk roadway segments and intersections and recommending improvements to reduce injuries and fatalities over time.

Understanding Orleans County’s Roadway Context

Orleans County’s roadway network is largely rural, connecting small villages, hamlets, and agricultural areas. The system includes roads owned and maintained by New York State, the County, and local towns and villages.

Many roads are two-lane, higher-speed facilities with limited shoulders, open drainage, and minimal roadside development outside of village centers. Communities such as Albion, Medina, and Holley have more concentrated activity, with intersections, pedestrian crossings, and on-street parking that create different safety considerations.

Safety considerations in Orleans County must account for:

• Higher speeds and increased risk of run-off-the-road crashes
• Long, straight roadway segments that can contribute to driver inattention or speeding
• Agricultural vehicles and seasonal equipment sharing the roadway
• Pedestrians and cyclists in areas with limited sidewalks or shoulders
• Tourism and seasonal traffic, particularly near Lake Ontario and the Erie Canal corridor
• Weather-related conditions, including snow, wind, and reduced visibility

These conditions underscore the need for solutions that reflect Orleans County’s rural character, seasonal travel patterns, and the shared use of roadways, while improving safety for all users of the transportation system.

Orleans County Project Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is a group of interdisciplinary stakeholders assembled to guide the development of each county’s Local Road Safety Plan (LRSP). Members represent key sectors such as public health, law enforcement, public works, planning, education, community organizations, and local elected officials.

The committee helps shape the project’s safety vision, goals, and priorities, provides local insight throughout the planning process, and ensures that public input is meaningfully incorporated. Steering Committee members also serve as champions for their communities, supporting outreach efforts and building momentum for implementation of the LRSP.

The members of the Orleans County Project Steering Committee include:

• Orleans County Department of Public Works, Craig Lane, Wayne Krull 
• Orleans County Sheriff's Department, Chris Bourke, Don Draper 
• Orleans County Emergency Management Office, Justin Niederhofer, Scott Buffin
• Orleans County Planning Department, Corey Winters, Cameron Murphy    
• NYSDOT Region 4, Josh Mullen    

Project Team
Genesee Transportation Council,  Al Bartolotta    
TYLin, Evert Garcia and Christine Bianchi 
Highland Planning, Mary Debree    

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