What They Are Reading in the States: Biden-Harris Administration Announces $817 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Invest in Safe Streets and Roads for All

This week, as part of his Investing in America Agenda and Bidenomics, President Biden announced $817 million for communities to implement projects to improve safety and prevent deaths and serious injuries on American roadways.

This first-of-its-kind program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is a part of the more than $13 billion in the legislation dedicated to roadway safety.

See what Americans across the country are reading below:

Spectrum 1 News: City of Cleveland receives $2.3 million grant for Safe Streets and Roads for All
[Nathan Sharman, 12/13/23] – Ohio
The U.S. Department of Transportation has committed a $2.3 million dollar grant to the City of Cleveland toward the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. This first-of-its-kind program was created by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is a part of the more than $14 billion dedicated to roadway safety across the country.

Houston Chronicle: Four Houston streets share $10.1M grant for flashing beacons, sidewalks aimed at pedestrian safety
[Dug Begley, 12/13/23] – Texas
Two Houston area management districts will share a $10.1 million federal grant aimed at adding pedestrian safety features and sidewalks in some of the city's most crash-prone areas, federal officials announced Wednesday. Nationwide 48 projects were chosen for construction projects, including three in Texas. Dallas will receive $21.8 million for a project to reduce vehicle lanes and add cycling and pedestrian amenities along two major streets.

Dallas Morning News: Dallas gets $21.8 million to improve safety on dangerous stretch of road in South Dallas
[Joseph Morton, 12/14/23] – Texas
Dallas has some of the most dangerous roadways in the country, particularly for pedestrians, but one dicey South Dallas stretch will get a safety makeover thanks to a $21.8 million federal grant announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Mitch Landrieu is a senior adviser to the president responsible for coordinating implementation of the infrastructure law. Landrieu cited the Dallas grant money as he spoke to reporters Wednesday about the administration's work to improve the country's infrastructure with an eye toward safety and preventing deaths. The White House has been highlighting grant awards from the infrastructure law with some fanfare as it seeks to tout President Joe Biden's accomplishments going into the 2024 elections.

Cleveland 19 News: Cleveland awarded over $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation
[Brian Koster, 12/13/23] – Ohio
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the City of Cleveland was awarded a $2.3 million Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant, according to the City of Cleveland. The program was created by President Biden's Infrastructure Law and is a part of the more than $14 billion in the law dedicated to roadway safety across the country. according to the press release.

The Coloradan: Fort Collins, Boulder net nearly $24 million for bike, pedestrian safety improvements
[Natasha Lovato, 12/14/23] – Colorado
Cyclists and pedestrians in Fort Collins, Boulder, and surrounding areas will benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with millions of dollars to be implemented toward safety measures. The Infrastructure Law is also funding multiple other projects around the state including $500,000 for the Front Range Rail, $22 million for the construction of a wildlife overpass between Denver and Colorado Springs, and $9 million for wildfire mitigation efforts.

The Tennessean: Nashville to receive $13M federal grant to transform Nolensville Pike, improve safety
[Cassandra Stephenson, 12/13/23] – Tennessee
Nashville's Nolensville Pike project is among the recipients of $817 million in Safe Streets and Roads for All grants announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday. Nashville will contribute $3.2 million in already-approved local funding to the project, bringing the total investment on Nolensville Pike to $16.3 million. Wednesday's announcement marks the third round of grants this year as part of President Joe Biden's Bipartisan infrastructure law, totaling $1.7 billion in funding to more than 1,000 local communities so far.

ABC 6 WATE: 'Safer roads for all' Knoxville receives $8M to revitalize Magnolia Avenue area
[Jasmine Rogers, 12/14/23] – Tennessee
On Thursday, Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon announced on social media that Knoxville has received $8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to make the city's streets safer. The funds were made available through the President's infrastructure law, which aims to tackle the preventable crisis of deaths on the nation's roads through safer roads, vehicles, and people.

KPBS: San Diego gets $2.25M grant for pedestrian, bicycle safety
[Staff, 12/13/23] – California
The U.S. Department of Transportation Wednesday awarded San Diego a $2.25 million grant as part of the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All Program to help fund two pedestrian and bicycle safety plans. Created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program is a competitive, discretionary grant program focused on improving pedestrian safety.

Times of San Diego: San Diego Gets $2.25M Dept. of Transportation Grant for Pedestrian, Bicycle Safety
[Elizabeth Ireland, 12/13/23] – California
The U.S. Department of Transportation Wednesday awarded San Diego a $2.25 million grant as part of the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All Program to help fund two pedestrian and bicycle safety plans. "I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration and Secretary Pete Buttigieg for this investment in our city," Mayor Todd Gloria said. "These dollars will allow us to update our Bike Master Plan to ensure we are expanding climate-friendly transportation options and improving the safety of our bicycle network."

Arkansas Democrat Gazette: Fayetteville awarded $25 million federal grant to improve road safety
[Stacy Ryburn, 12/14/23] – Arkansas
The city learned Wednesday it received a $25 million Safe Streets for All grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The money will help pay for five projects and a public awareness campaign with a 25% local match requirement. Wednesday marked the third round of grants issued under the program this year, according to a news release from the transportation department. A total of $1.7 billion has gone out to more than 1,000 communities.

Fayetteville Flyer: City of Fayetteville receives $25 million grant for Safe Streets for All program
[Dustin Bartholomew, 12/13/23] – Arkansas
The City of Fayetteville received a $25 million grant from the Federal Department of Transportation to implement five projects around the city as part of a program called Safe Streets for All. The funding is part of $817 million awarded to cities around the country Wednesday as part of a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 385 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant that will be given to regional, local, and Tribal communities for "implementation, planning, and demonstration projects driven at the local level to improve safety and help prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation's roadways."

ABC 4029 TV: Fayetteville receives grant money for 'Streets Safe for All' campaign
[Jacob Murphy, 12/13/23] – Arkansas
As part of the "Streets Safe for All" campaign by USDOT, Fayetteville received $25 million for road projects on Wednesday. Fayetteville Public Works Director Chris Brown said. "This funding is allowing us to accelerate the construction of those pedestrian and bike improvements, adding sidewalks, and creating additional safe crossing locations for pedestrians, The new infrastructure bill has really kind of generated a lot more opportunities".

KSIS Radio: Pettis County Awarded 'Safe Streets and Roads for All' Grant
[Randy Kirby, 12/13/23] – Missouri
On Wednesday, Dec. 13th Pettis County was awarded a $266,120 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant by the Department of Transportation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the SS4A discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over five years. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

Pittsburgh Union Progress: Allegheny County, Cranberry area receive federal funds for traffic safety studies
[Ed Blazina, 12/14/23] – Pennsylvania
Allegheny County and the area around Cranberry can begin planning road safety improvements through study grants announced Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grants, $520,000 for the county and $244,000 for the Cranberry area, were among 385 implementation and planning grants worth $817 million. The funds were awarded under the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, part of the Biden administration's economic stimulus plan that earmarked $14 billion over five years to improve road conditions and reduce the sharp spike in traffic deaths that occurred during the first two years of the pandemic.

Washington County Insider: City of West Bend to receive portion of $11 million in federal funding to create safer roads
[Judy Steffers, 12/13/23] – Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced today eight Wisconsin communities, including West Bend, WI, will receive a total of$11,320,258 in federal discretionary funds through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program to improve roadway safety. WisDOT provides resources to help Wisconsin communities tap into $1.1 billion in available new federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Chippewa Herald: Chippewa County to receive $200,000 to improve road safety
[Staff, 12/13/23] – Wisconsin
Chippewa County will receive $200,000 of federal funding to improve road safety through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, according to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The Center Square: $19M in federal funds to improve road safety on the way to four Nevada projects
[Chris Woodward, 12/13/23] – Nevada
Four projects in Nevada are getting nearly $19 million total in federal funds to improve road safety. U.S. Sens Jacky Rosen's office announced the $18,957,436 total in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Funding for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grants comes from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. Nationally, USDOT is awarding 385 grants totaling $817 million.

Laredo Morning Times: Houston's 'high-injury' streets are getting a $10.1 million makeover
[Michael Murney, 12/14/23] – Texas
As first reported by the Houston Chronicle's Dug Begley, federal officials on Wednesday announced a $10.1 million grant will be split between two Houston-area management districts to fund construction of new safety features. Houston's grant was awarded as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. The program distributed $817 million in grants for 385 communities across the country during this cycle, per federal officials.

KERA News: North Texas cities awarded millions in federal funds for roadway safety
[Pablo Arauz Pena, 12/14/23] – Texas
The White House is allocating millions in federal funding in response to the crisis of fatal crashes and injuries on the nation's roadways. Some of that money is going to cities across North Texas. Mitch Landrieu, a senior White House infrastructure adviser, told reporters during a virtual press conference Wednesday that the issue of road safety is near and dear to the president. Landrieu named just a few of the hundreds of cities on the Department of Transportation's list to receive grant money to complete projects. Altogether the White House is awarding $800 million to communities across the nation, money that comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021.

22 WWLP: Federal funding aims to enhance roadway safety in western Mass.
[Kristina D/Amours, 12/13/23] – Massachusetts
New federal funding aims to support roadway safety efforts here in western Massachusetts. The United States Department of Transportation has awarded over $800 million to improve roadway safety, under the 'Safe Streets and Roads for All' grants. Several communities in our area including Chicopee, Holyoke and Westfield will receive funding in this initiative. 22News spoke with Gary Roux of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, who will use the $1 million they were awarded to better assess the problems areas in western Massachusetts.

The Lane Report: $22M federal grant will bring safety upgrades to Lexington's New Circle Road
[Staff, 12/13/23] – Kentucky
Lexington has received $22 million in federal funding from the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant that will be used to address safety concerns and reconstruct critical roadway on heavily used New Circle Road on the north side of the city. Senator McConnell said. "I supported the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act because of programs like this, which will help improve traffic safety in one of our Commonwealth's largest cities."

ABC 15: $25 million going toward improving safety on Indian School Road corridor
[Josh Kristianto, 12/13/23] – Arizona
The federal government is focusing on safety along what many consider a dangerous corridor for drivers and pedestrians in central Phoenix. The city is set to receive nearly $25 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to make improvements along a stretch of Indian School Road between 39th and 91st avenues.

Richmond Today: City gets another $10 million for street safety improvements
[Robin Schwartzkopf, 12/13/23] – Virginia
The city has received a second grant from the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The $10.77 million will go towards several safety improvement initiatives. Many of the improvements will go to areas highlighted in Richmond's transportation plan, Richmond Connects. The city highlighted twelve priority projects when it announced the grant.

Urbanize Detroit: Detroit, Dearborn receive major road safety grants
[Robin Runyan, 12/14/23] – Michigan
Detroit and Dearborn both received $24.8 million implementation grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation today. The grants will go toward projects to increase safety and decrease deaths on our roads. The announcements were part of $817 million in grants across the country for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 385 Safe Streets and Roads for All program.

FOX 55 WFFT: City of Fort Wayne Public Works Division awarded Safe Streets and Roads for All grant
[Kymmi Amato, 12/13/23] – Indiana
The City of Fort Wayne's Public Works Division received a $5.6 million federal grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, for Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A).

96.3 XKE: Grant to go toward improvements to the Broadway & Taylor corridors
[Joey Martin, 12/13/23] – Indiana
The City of Fort Wayne's Public Works Division was awarded $5.6 million for a Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) federal grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Since 2014, the City has invested more than $297 million in neighborhood infrastructure enhancements.

CBS WANE 15: City of Fort Wayne receives $5.6M to improve Broadway, Taylor corridors
[Clayton McMahan, 12/14/23] – Indiana
A federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will allow the City of Fort Wayne to make safety improvements to Broadway and Taylor Street, city officials said. The City of Fort Wayne recently received $5.6 million from a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant to make improvements to the intersection, which would include adding a roundabout and crosswalk visibility enhancements.

WPTA 21: City receives $5.6M Safe Streets and Roads for All grant
[Staff, 12/13/23] – Indiana
Fort Wayne city leaders announced they will receive a grant for safer roads. According to a news release, the city's Public Works Division was awarded $5.6M for an SS4A, or Safe Streets and Roads for All federal grant. Officials say proposed improvements include a single-lane roundabout construction, pedestrian refuge islands, and crosswalk visibility improvement.