In a significant step towards making the streets more accessible and safer for pedestrians, Austin has been granted a hefty $10.5 million by the federal government. The funding announced by U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Thursday is part of a broader effort to enhance pedestrian safety across the city. According to the City of Austin's news release, the grant will facilitate the installation of nearly 50 new crossings and support the expansion of the City's Living Streets Program.
With an eye on reducing fatal and serious injury crashes, particularly those involving pedestrians, the project dubbed “Safer Transportation Routes using Inclusive, Demonstrative and Equitable Solutions” (STRIDES) aims to address the City’s highest-priority crossing gaps. Announcing the grant, the City of Austin revealed that Transportation and Public Works Department (TPW) staff, conducting preliminary analysis to identify these priority locations, will be including historically underserved communities in their improvement plans. Highlighting a community-led approach, the plan seeks to respond to resident calls for streets that are more comfortable to walk, gather, and play.
The grant's provisions don't stop at installing crossings. It also includes the development of a demonstration project that will explore soft road closures using quick-build, temporary traffic calming, and placemaking methods. This project is aligned with the Council-approved Living Streets Program, which will test these methods on local, neighborhood streets. Austin is set to contribute an additional $2.5 million in matching funds as required by the grant, further investing in the infrastructure enhancements.
The news of the funding comes on the heels of Austin securing two previous grants under the same federal program, including a $22.9 million award in 2022 and a $288,000 award in 2023. The funds previously allocated have been put towards advancing ADA transition plans for urban trails and pedestrian crossings, demonstrating the City's ongoing commitment to inclusivity and safety. Spurred by the success of past initiatives, Mayor Kirk Watson was quoted in the press release endorsing the City's Department for their "proven track record of reducing fatal and serious injury crashes through low-cost, effective safety projects."
This federal grant is part of the $1 billion package distributed to communities across the United States, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. The program's generous support to Austin stands as a testament to the City’s dedication to creating safer, more equitable transportation networks. As Mayor Watson highlighted in his statement, the ultimate goal remains to make "Austin streets safer for everyone who uses them, whether they’re driving, walking, cycling or rolling."
