Published 2:15 pm Monday, October 5, 2026

The city of Blair wants residents to help identify its most dangerous streets and crossings for a plan that could unlock federal and state safety funding.

The city is developing a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The $200,000 project is funded by a $160,000 federal grant and $40,000 from the city. 

“Federal grant money, it’s very competitive,” said CJ Heaton, deputy city administrator of public works. “So you in a sense have to spend money to be able to go for those bigger grants.”

Consulting firm SEH is collecting input through surveys, an online map where residents drop pins on problem areas, and public events. Those events have included National Night Out in August and two open houses, most recently Sept. 29. SEH will be at Tannenbaum on Nov. 19 and plans another event after the first of the year. The plan is expected to be presented in May 2027.

“It’s an established plan that shows this is a need instead of just a city saying, ‘Hey, I want this,'” said Jake Dunn, public safety and communications coordinator for the city.

With the plan in place, the city can seek money from the Nebraska Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation or the Federal Railroad Administration. One frequently cited concern is the train-blocked railroad crossing at Highway 91 on Fontenelle Boulevard.

David Scott, deputy city administrator of operations, said Blair’s needs may not be limited to construction. “Maybe it’s not just infrastructure,” Scott said. “There were people … that said things like, you know, the kids on bikes and other things, that maybe in Blair it’s more about education.”

Heaton said that could mean distracted driving or seatbelt campaigns. “You see the Click It or Ticket campaigns. Those are grant-funded things,” he said.

The plan will rank priorities and suggest solutions but does not guarantee any project will be built. “It’s going to say, ‘Here’s your problem. Here’s the suggested solution. Now go seek the funding or pay for it yourself,'” Dunn said.

Residents can participate at blairne.gov under Departments, then Public Works, in the Safe Streets for All tab. Dunn encouraged residents to add pins even where others already have.

“If you see a pin on the map already when you go look at it, drop another pin,” he said.