Springfield receives $15M federal grant for traffic, pedestrian, bicycle safety

SPRINGFIELD – The city received $15 million from the US Department of Transportation earmarked for safety improvements at 10 well-traveled corridors and 15 intersections.

The grant will pay for intersection and signal improvements, pedestrian and bicycling enhancements, sidewalk upgrades, lighting and improvements in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For a list of grant awards DOT released on Wednesday.

a security action plan was issued by city Prepared for grant application in September 2022. The plan calls for specific improvements such as high-visibility crosswalks, traffic islands and walk/don’t walk signs with countdown clocks.

According to that plan, from 2015 to 2019, 56 people died due to crashes on Springfield roads. Another 428 people suffered serious, potentially life-changing injuries.

Including on the basis of economic casualty cost alone. Lost wages, property damage, and other actual measured costs. The plan says the cost of accidents in Springfield is approximately $200 million a year. Based on comprehensive accident costs, which include economic and quality-adjusted life years, the cost of accidents in Springfield is approximately $717 million per year.

The plan does not identify all intersections, but also lists 10 corridors listed in the US Department of Transportation report released Wednesday:

Suggested speed reduction fixes security plan Incorporate “road diets” to narrow travel lanes and include warning signs for drivers to slow down and display driver speed.

All improvements work with the state’s full street plan for pedestrian and bicyclist access and safety, in accordance with the city’s safety plan.

federal government $30.6 million announced Wednesday at the Safe Streets and Roads for All event for Massachusetts. $800 million in grant awards to 510 projects nationwide.

The bipartisan infrastructure legislation, passed in November 2021, provides $5 billion over five years for the Safe Streets for All program and regional, local and tribal initiatives in the Streets, according to the release.

Boston, Ware, the Berkshire County Planning Agency and Southbridge were also recipients announced Wednesday.

Boston received $9 million for overall street improvements such as elevated crosswalks and pedestrian shelter islands, street right-sizing and curb extensions, slow turn wedges, and speed humps. slow turn wedges There are pavement markings that compel drivers to slow down and maintain proper lanes during left turns.

Elsewhere, Southbridge received $60,000 to develop its own action plan for traffic safety. Ware received $40,500 to develop his action plan US Department of Transportation, Worcester received $200,000 for his action plan. The Berkshire Regional Planning Commission received $198,000.