California will receive $5 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation to increase road safety for drivers and pedestrians. The program will target some of the most dangerous areas in the state. In addition, 43 local California communities will receive grants to assist in the development of roadway and transit improvement action plans.
The roadway safety projects include the following, according to City News Service:
- $21.49 for repairs to and crash reduction in the Florence-Firestone area of South Los Angeles
- $9 to help Los Angeles’ Zero Vision goal of eliminating traffic and pedestrian deaths along La Brea Avenue
- $28.9 million for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project I’m Contra Costa County
- $17.6 million for the Western Addition Community Safe Streets Project in San Francisco
- $15 million for the San Pablo Avenue Safety Improvements Project in Alameda County
- $12.9 million for Modoc County’s SS4A Implementation Project
- $2.2 million for improvements to Sedco Blvd. in Wildomar (Riverside County)
Local communities receiving federal grants for planning assistance include Irwindale, Pasadena, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The federal grants come on top of $2.5 billion in funding for mass transit projects announced by Governor Gavin Newsom.
“The projects funded represent critical transportation and will provide alternatives to driving with access to a modernized, public transit system,” he said. “California is unwavering in our commitment to our world-leading climate agenda, including record levels of investments in public transportation projects to electrify fleets, expand and improve service, and spark ridership growth.”
Those 16 projects include the following:
- $600 million for LA Metro’s East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor project
- $407 million to help fully fund the Inglewood Transit Connector
- $375 million for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension project
- $19 million for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority’s West Valley Connector Bus Rapid Transit and Zero-Emission Bus Initiative
See also: a map of traffic crash hot spots from the U.S. Department of Transportation