Larsen: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is building safer streets and roads in Northwest Washington

DOT announces $4.27 million in bipartisan infrastructure law funding for local road safety planning projects

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. RICK LARSEN |||

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) announcement of $4.27 million in Safe Streets and Roads for All funding for local projects aimed at improving road safety for all users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

The Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which invests $5 billion over five years in regional, local and Tribal initiatives to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries, was established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Northwest Washington communities have the resources needed to develop comprehensive action plans to expand safe and reliable transportation options for all people,” said Larsen, the lead Democrat on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “Traffic fatalities on Washington roads and highways hit a 32-year high in 2022 – a crisis that disproportionally hurts pedestrians and cyclists. I look forward to continued partnership with local communities, stakeholders and Tribes to identify and invest in projects that keep people and the economy moving and improve safety outcomes and accessibility for all travelers.”

Five Local Projects Awarded Road Safety Grants

Several local projects were awarded Safe Streets and Roads for All grants totaling $4,278,318.

• $2,870,000 for Puget Sound Regional Council Coordination of Ten Local Safety Action Plans – The Puget Sound Regional Council will develop comprehensive safety action plans. In Washington’s Second Congressional District, the City of Edmonds will be awarded $300,000 and Snohomish County will be awarded $250,000 of the $2.87 million grant.
• $1,008,318 for Lummi Tribe Traffic Safety Action Plan – The Lummi Tribe will develop a comprehensive safety action plan and pilot demonstration activities at up to nine targeted intersections.
• $300,000 for Skagit Council of Governments Regional Safety Action Plan – The Skagit Council of Governments will develop a comprehensive safety action plan.
• $100,000 for City of Anacortes Action Plan – The City of Anacortes will develop a comprehensive safety action plan.

Local Leaders Applaud Road Safety Grants

Leaders from the Puget Sound Regional Council, the Lummi Indian Business Council, the Skagit Council of Governments and the City of Anacortes celebrated the grant awards and emphasized their importance to local road safety initiatives.

“This additional round of Safe Streets and Roads for All grant funding means we will be working in close partnership with over 25 cities and counties in the region on safety planning to move us toward the important goal of reducing fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways in the Puget Sound region,” said Josh Brown, Executive Director of Puget Sound Regional Council. “We are grateful to Representative Larsen for these critical resources provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will help us advance regional safety goals,” said Josh Brown, Executive Director, Puget Sound Regional Council.

“This is great news that will lead to implementation of projects and programs that will make roads and streets in Skagit County safer for both pedestrians and drivers,” said Kevin Murphy, Executive Director, Skagit Council of Governments.

“Thank you, U.S. Department of Transportation, for funding the development of a Streets Safety Action Plan for our community. Once developed the plan will provide a road map of actions the city can take to increase the safety of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The safety of our community is foundational to many of the City’s functions, having an action plan customized to our communities’ needs will increase safety of all who use our streets,” said Matt Miller, Mayor, City of Anacortes.

Additional Information

Thanks to Larsen’s leadership, $7.9 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has been invested in Washington state infrastructure, with more than 460 specific projects identified for funding statewide. For more information on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is benefiting Northwest Washington, click here.

For more information on the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, click here.