U.S. DOT Awards More Than $1 Billion in Grants for Roadway Safety

What’s happening: The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Sept. 5 awarded more than $1 billion in grants for local roadway safety projects aimed at reducing deaths and injuries in both cities and rural areas.

Why it matters:  The grants went to over 350 communities across the country, with significant amounts going to Los Angeles County, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, and the city of Milwaukee. So far, $2.7 billion has been provided to more than 1,400 communities through U.S. DOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, which supports safety for nearly three-quarters of the U.S. population.  SS4A was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which provides $5 billion over five years to fund these projects.

What’s next:  While the awards are given to make communities safer for road users, it is important to note that transportation construction workers are often not considered “vulnerable road users” in many state safety plans.  As these projects come to fruition, ARTBA members are encouraged to remind roadway operators and owners to prioritize worker safety. For more information on roadway workers as vulnerable road users, contact ARTBA’s Brad Sant.