Blumenthal, Murphy, Himes, & Hayes Announce $3.44 Million for Traffic & Road Safety Improvements

[HARTFORD, CT] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representatives Jim Himes (D-CT) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) announced $3.44 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support four traffic safety projects across Connecticut. The funds are awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program established to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.

“This $3.44 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding comes at a time of great urgency as tens of thousands of lives are lost on our nation’s roadways each year. These projects will transform road and pedestrian safety at the local level so that Connecticut’s motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists can feel safer on the roads. I am proud to fight for these investments and to lead my colleagues on the Road to Zero resolution to prevent senseless roadway tragedies from occurring,” said Blumenthal.

“When I walk across the state every year, I see firsthand how many roads are unsafe for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers. This $3.4 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will give Bridgeport, Canton, Fairfield, and Norwalk the federal dollars they need to implement evidence-based solutions that save lives and make our streets both safer and more walkable,” said Murphy.

“Too many of our roads are hazardous for pedestrians and cyclists, causing preventable, but often life-threatening, collisions. That’s why I’m thrilled to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to deliver for Southwest Connecticut by funding Safe Streets and Roads for All grants for Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Fairfield. This federal funding will be used to identify and mitigate traffic chokepoints and develop town action plans that will create safer, more accessible, and cleaner roadways,” said Himes.

“Since its passage, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has delivered results for communities across Connecticut’s Fifth District. This Safe Streets and Roads for All funding will help Canton to take steps towards ensuring streets and roadways are safe for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists,” said Hayes.

The funding announced today will support the following regional and local projects:

• $2,538,400 for Bridgeport to advance its community-driven Complete & Safe Streets Design Manual, create an action plan for its implementation, and conduct numerous demonstration activities to inform the action plan
• $160,000 for Canton to develop a comprehensive safety action plan
• $350,000 for Fairfield to develop a comprehensive safety action plan
• $400,000 for Norwalk to develop a comprehensive safety action plan

The SS4A program supports the Department of Transportation’s goal of zero deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roadways. This comes at a time where traffic fatalities are at the highest level in decades.

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