Blumenthal, Murphy, Larson, Courtney, DeLauro, & Himes Announce Nearly $17 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 John Larson (CT-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Jim Himes (CT-04) announced nearly $17 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support five 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 federal support will help stop catastrophic crashes on our roads and streets — one of the biggest, most preventable causes of death and injury. Nearly $17 million is a solid step toward safety for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as car drivers and passengers. Just last year, there were more than 300 deaths on Connecticut roadways, and many of these deaths could have been prevented with safer traffic measures and upgrades. I am proud that this federal funding will support five major projects that will transform road and pedestrian safety so our residents are protected,” said Blumenthal.

“This $17 million will support major upgrades to roadways in New Haven and West Hartford with high crash rates, making some of our most dangerous roads much safer for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers. Funding will also lay the groundwork for better public transportation and help local, regional, and Tribal communities develop action plans to target crash hot spots and reduce preventable deaths. This is all thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I look forward to seeing their impact on our state,” said Murphy.

“This year, we have tragically lost more than 200 drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, to accidents on Connecticut roads. We passed the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program to improve traffic safety and reduce fatalities and serious injuries. I am glad to see more than $3 million from this program coming to West Hartford to implement safety measures like sidewalks, bike lanes, flashing beacons, and expanded school zone speed limits. I remain committed to working with state and local partners to improve roadway safety for everyone,” said Larson.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law doesn’t just promote economic opportunity; it also makes critical investments to ensure the well-being of communities throughout eastern Connecticut. The need for pedestrian safeguards and an efficient traffic system has become more prevalent. This new round of federal infrastructure funding will support the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the University of Connecticut as they move to improve traffic and pedestrian safety, standing as another example of how the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program is paying dividends for eastern Connecticut," said Courtney.

“Safe streets are essential to creating livable and vibrant communities. These investments will help us improve transportation safety, reduce traffic fatalities and injuries, and strengthen our communities connectivity. I was proud to help write the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which continues to improve our infrastructure and transportation safety while combatting climate change and creating good-paying jobs,” said DeLauro.

“Car accidents are an all too familiar occurrence in Connecticut, with more than 200 crashes recorded over Labor Day weekend alone. The federal funding towns, cities, and Tribes will receive from the Safe Streets and Roads for All program will empower local authorities to make our roads safer for drivers, bikers, and pedestrians,” said Himes.

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

• $200,000 to the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation for the Mashantucket Pequot Comprehensive Safety Action Plan Development Project
• $1,576,751 to UConn for the University of Connecticut Safe System for All Road Users
• $1,000,000 to Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments for the MetroCOG Regional Safety Action Plan – Phase II – Crash Hot Spot Countermeasure Suitability Analysis
• $3,178,100 to the Town of West Hartford for the Vulnerable User Safety Program
• $11,040,000 to the City of New Haven for the Chapel Street Safe Streets Implementation Project

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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