AUSTIN — U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced Thursday, September 5, that the City of Austin has been awarded $10.5 million to improve safety for pedestrians.
The Safe Streets and Roads for All grant funding will allow the city to install crossings at nearly 50 locations and more fully develop the city’s Living Streets Program, which seeks to follow resident-led requests for making their local street more comfortable to gather, walk and play. The city will contribute $2.5 million in matching funds required by the grant, a news release said.
The grant will fund the implementation of proven safety countermeasures at a systemic, citywide scale to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes, especially those involving pedestrians. Crossing treatments will reportedly include a combination of rectangular rapid flashing beacons, pedestrian crossing islands, curb extensions and pedestrian hybrid beacons, as well as one critically needed grade-separated crossing of I-35. Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) staff are currently conducting preliminary analysis to identify priority locations.
The project, officially named “Safer Transportation Routes using Inclusive, Demonstrative and Equitable Solutions” (STRIDES), will address the City’s highest priority crossing gaps based on the Council-adopted Sidewalks, Crossings and Shared Streets Plan, including those on the Vision Zero High Injury Network, with a focus on improving safety in historically underserved communities.
The grant also includes a demonstration project on local, neighborhood streets that will test soft road closures using quick-build, cost-effective and temporary traffic calming and placemaking methods as part of the council-approved Living Streets Program.
According to the City of Austin Transportation Public Works, the award was part of a package of $1 billion in federal grants to local, regional and tribal communities around the United States, as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program.
This is Austin’s third SS4A grant award, including a $22.9 million award in 2022 and a $288,000 award in 2023 to pursue ADA transition plans for urban trails and pedestrian crossings.
“Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Department has a proven track record of reducing fatal and serious injury crashes through low-cost, effective safety projects,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. “This funding will help us expand that work, making Austin streets safer for everyone who uses them, whether they’re driving, walking, cycling or rolling.”
Source: City of Austin Transportation Public Works
