On Monday, President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that applications are being accepted for $1 billion in funding for projects that address street and roadway safety.
Part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A), the discretionary grant program provides dedicated funding to support regional, local, and Tribal plans, projects, and strategies to prevent roadway deaths and injuries. The funding comes as traffic fatalities and injuries are at their highest point in a decade, officials said.
“We face a national crisis of fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways, and these tragedies are preventable – so as a nation, we must work urgently and collaboratively to save lives,” Buttigieg said. “The funds we are making available today from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help communities large and small take action to protect all Americans on our roads.”
The SS4A grants would focus on improving roadway safety by helping communities develop comprehensive safety action plans based on the Safe System Approach and implement projects and strategies to reduce or eliminate transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries involving pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, and motorists. Funding can also support engagement to ensure community members have a voice in developing plans, projects, and strategies.
“The rise in deaths and serious injuries on our public roads affects people of every age, race, and income level, in rural communities and big cities alike,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack. “This program will provide leaders in communities across the country with the resources they need to make roads safer for everyone.”