Caltrans to designate Varner Road as priority corridor in state safety initiative

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) - Caltrans officials are expected tomorrow to officially designate Varner Road in Thousand Palms a "State Priority Safety Corridor," targeting the street under a data-driven effort to reduce crashes and fatalities.

California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, Caltrans Director Dina El-Tawansy, California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee and Office of Traffic Safety Director Stephanie Dougherty are among those set to take part in the announcement, which will be made at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at Sunline Transit Agency, 72420 Varner Road.   

Varner Road will be designated as a priority corridor aimed to test, learn and make visible progress toward road safety in California, officials said.  

According to state officials, there were 3,612 fatalities and 14,392 serious injuries in California on the state highway system and local road networks.