AUSTIN, Texas – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced on Thursday, Sept. 5, that the City of Austin has been awarded $10.5 million to improve pedestrian safety.
The Safe Streets and Roads for All grant funding will enable the city to install crossings at nearly 50 locations and further develop the City's Living Streets Program, which aims to follow resident-led requests for making local streets more comfortable for gathering, walking, and playing. The city will contribute $2.5 million in matching funds required by the grant.
The grant will fund the implementation of proven safety countermeasures at a systemic, citywide scale to reduce fatal and serious injury crashes, especially those involving pedestrians. Crossing treatments will include rectangular rapid flashing beacons, pedestrian crossing islands, curb extensions, pedestrian hybrid beacons, and one grade-separated crossing of I-35. Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) staff are currently conducting preliminary analysis to identify priority locations.
The project is officially named “Safer Transportation Routes using Inclusive, Demonstrative and Equitable Solutions” (STRIDES). It will address the city's highest priority crossing gaps based on the Council-adopted Sidewalks, Crossings and Shared Streets Plan, including those on the Vision Zero High Injury Network with a focus on improving safety in historically underserved communities.
The grant also includes a demonstration project on local neighborhood streets that will test soft road closures using quick-build, cost-effective temporary traffic calming and placemaking methods as part of the Council-approved Living Streets Program.
The award was part of a package of $1 billion in federal grants to local, regional, and tribal communities around the United States as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program.
This is Austin’s third SS4A grant award. Previous awards included $22.9 million in 2022 and $288,000 in 2023 to pursue ADA transition plans for urban trails and pedestrian crossings.
“Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Department has a proven track record of reducing fatal and serious injury crashes through low-cost effective safety projects,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. “This funding will help us expand that work, making Austin streets safer for everyone who uses them whether they’re driving, walking cycling or rolling.”
About Austin Transportation and Public Works Department
The Transportation and Public Works Department provides safe reliable accessible mobility services for all Austinites while taking proactive steps to engage and educate the community.
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