Infrastructure – More DOT Roadway Safety Planning Grants

Ken Zino of AutoInformed.com on Infrastructure - More DOT Roadway Safety Planning Grants

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The US Department of Transportation today announced $86 million in Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grants to 235 regional, local and Tribal communities for planning and demonstration projects to improve safety and help prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. The enlightened investments from President Biden’s infrastructure law allow communities to plan safety projects advocated by local leaders and residents. Tens of thousands of people die each year on US roads.

Whether it’s a dangerous intersection or highway, or a need for better bus and bike lanes, no one can better pinpoint a community’s safety needs than the people who actually live and work there,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “In the past five years, the communities we are awarding these grants to experienced nearly 14,000 roadway deaths. To help change that unacceptable reality, we are proud to deliver this needed funding to help them address their unique safety needs and save lives.”

Today is the first of two announcements for this round of the Safe Streets and Roads for All competitive grant program, and includes planning and demonstration grants. The second announcement is due later this year and will include funding to implement safety improvements. In total, the SS4A grants are expected to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in funding investments in safety, provided directly to local communities, DOT said.

Some of the communities and projects funded by awards announced today:

  • The Navajo Nation Division of Transportation received $1.44 million in Federal funds to develop a new comprehensive safety action plan.
  • The City of Deerfield Beach, Florida received $192,000 in Federal funds to test out a temporary build project along Southwest 3rd Avenue in support of its Vision Zero Action Plan to inform how to increase safety, accessibility and mobility along the corridor.
  • The County of Kauai, Hawaii, received $200,000 in Federal funding to develop a new comprehensive safety action plan.
  • The Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System in Maine received $400,000 in Federal funding to develop an action plan, and pilot temporary demonstration activities such as separated bicycle lanes, flashing beacons at a few key intersections, and modifications to lane delineations to inform action plan projects and strategies

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law more than doubled funding for surface transportation programs that improve roadway safety. This announcement joins a collection of roadway safety investments, including the $9 billion in funding that states have received through the Highway Safety Improvement Program and the $570 million in funding that will improve safety at more than 400 rail crossings across the country.

The list of awards can be viewed here

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