Nearly $35M In Federal Traffic Safety Grants Headed To WA

SEATTLE — More than a dozen federal infrastructure grants will help fund road safety improvements in Washington, with the bulk earmarked for Seattle's Safe Streets program.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced $800 million in "Safe Streets and Roads for All" (SS4A) grants Wednesday, with 17 grants totaling nearly $35 million headed for Washington.

Officials approved 510 projects nationwide, citing traffic deaths reaching a 16-year high in 2021. In January, the Washington Traffic Safety Commission said 745 people died in crashes in the Evergreen State last year, a figure higher than any year since 1990.

More than $25 million of the funds will support Seattle safety projects, including new sidewalks, traffic calming devices and new protected bike lanes. The grand will pay for at least 60 improvements at signaled intersections, 4 miles of protected bike lanes and 1.5 miles of new sidewalks, officials said.

"Community members have shown me many locations where they want safety improvements;  this grant will enable SDOT to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, and signals using a Safe Systems approach," said Greg Spotts, director of the Seattle Department of Transportation. "Thanks to the investment of our federal partners in the Biden Administration and USDOT, we can focus these safety enhancements on the communities most in need – Rainier Valley, Sodo, Downtown, and the University District, making our streets safer for all."

The other cities and organizations receiving grants for similar projects are:

• City of Ellensburg
• City of Lacey
• City of Montesano
• City of Toppenish
• Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments
• Grant County
• Island Regional Planning Organization
• King County Road Services Division
• Kittitas County Department of Public Works
• Northeast Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization
• Puget Sound Regional Council
• Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council
• Spokane Regional Transportation Council
• Thurston County
• Walla Walla County Department of Public Works
• Whatcom Council of Governments

>> Find a complete list of where the money is going here.