The City of Tempe is setting its sights on significantly enhancing road safety with a substantial financial injection from the federal government. A $12.5 million grant, courtesy of a Department of Transportation, is an earmark for improvements along a stretch of Baseline Road that has witnessed its fair share of serious and fatal crashes. Between 2017 and 2021, this corridor, spanning from Priest Drive to State Route 101, was the site of 35 fatal or serious injury crashes, as detailed by the City of Tempe.
According to details released by the City of Tempe, Tempe Mayor Corey Woods sees the grant as a potential lifesaver. "This grant could save lives," Woods elaborated, underlining the aim of Tempe’s Vision Zero Action Plan to eradicate traffic fatalities and serious injuries through street infrastructure enhancements. Planned upgrades include measures like signalized pedestrian crossings and dedicated turn and bike lanes to bolster traffic flow and safety.
The grant, part of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, furnishes communities with needed funds for implementing safety strategies on their streets. Since its inception in 2022, the SS4A program has been a boon to over 1,400 communities, directly supporting roadway safety for nearly three-quarters of the U.S. population. "Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to get Arizona communities like Tempe the resources they need to invest in our roadways and make them safer and more accessible for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians,” Rep. Greg Stanton affirmed, as stated by the City of Tempe.
A series of improvements are on the drawing board as part of the grant-funded project. These include the addition of dedicated turn lanes and protected-only left turns, along with a range of features aimed at improving pedestrian and cyclist safety, such as buffered bike lanes and enhanced intersection lighting. The project also promises to pay heed to public opinion with a full public input process, including public meetings and a public comment period before its finalization.
