Connecticut Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $2.4 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 B. Larson (D-CT), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) announced $2.408 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support six 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 funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law comes at a time of great urgency. More people are dying on our nation’s roadways than ever before, and we need to commit to safety improvements that will prevent these senseless tragedies from occurring,” said Blumenthal. “These projects will target the issues at the local level so that Connecticut’s motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists can feel safer on the roads.”

“It’s tragic and unacceptable that Connecticut’s pedestrian deaths are at a 40-year high. It’s not enough to ask drivers to slow down – we know the best way to prevent these tragedies is to start building safety features into our streets, like raised sidewalks or narrower traffic lanes. This $2.4 million award from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help cities and towns across the state develop actionable plans to save lives,” said Murphy.

“We passed the Safe Streets and Roads for All Program to address the national crisis of deaths and serious injuries on our roads,” said Larson. “Last year was Connecticut’s deadliest year on the roads – with more than 300 driver, passenger, and pedestrian deaths. The loss of our friend and colleague, State Rep. Quentin Williams, reminds us of the urgent need for action. This $2.4 million investment to improve roadway safety across our state, including in Torrington and the Capital Region, will go a long way to protect Connecticut residents and ensure they have input in community safety initiatives.”

“The bipartisan Infrastructure Law isn’t just about increasing economic opportunity, it’s also about making investments to keep our communities safe places to live, work, and raise our families,” said Courtney. “Traffic and pedestrian safety has unfortunately become a more pressing issue in the past several years, not just in our region, but nationwide. Increased economic activity brings all sorts of new jobs and career opportunities for people in our region, but it also means we may need to re-think local traffic safety plans as our thoroughfares see greater use. This new round of federal infrastructure funding is going to kick-start efforts to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in towns throughout eastern Connecticut, and it’s another great example of how the IIJA is paying dividends for our region.”

“Every year, thousands of Connecticut residents are killed in preventable traffic deaths,” said DeLauro. “The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program provides resources that will enable our towns and cities to take the adequate steps to implement comprehensive safety action plans that will ultimately save lives. In Connecticut’s Third Congressional District, I am proud to see the City of New Haven and the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments awarded funding to enhance and develop needed traffic safety.”

“I’m pleased to see the Town of Westport receive federal funds to develop a plan to ensure that our infrastructure investments protect all road users: drivers, pedestrians, bikers, and others. This is yet another example of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act delivering for Fourth District residents and making our communities safer, healthier places to live,” said Himes.

“Safer streets and commutes are on the way to Connecticut thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. I am pleased to see critical projects from the City of Torrington and Capitol Region Council of Governments receive federal funding to prevent injuries and save lives. I look forward to working with state and local leaders to ensure the Safe Streets and Roads for All grants are expeditiously distributed and these projects are completed,” said Hayes.

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

• $200,000 for Torrington to develop a comprehensive safety action plan
• $160,000 for the Northeastern Connecticut Counsel of Governments to develop a comprehensive safety action plan
• $450,000 for Westport to develop a comprehensive safety action plan
• $400,000 for New Haven to build upon the existing safety action plan to pursue quick-build projects
• $958,000 for the Capitol Region Council of Governments to develop a comprehensive safety action plan
• $240,000 for the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments 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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