As traffic fatalities climb in Salem, new draft plan highlights public safety concerns

Fatal and serious traffic collisions in the Salem area have tripled in the past decade, and residents say they fear for their safety when walking or biking in neighborhoods.

A new draft plan gives local leaders a roadmap for fixing those issues, recommending median islands, narrow lane widths and protected bike lanes.

The Salem-Keizer Area Transportation Study, the area’s metropolitan organization in charge of researching and planning transportation improvements, released the draftof its transportation…