Arizona Cities, County, and Tribes Receive Over $25 Million for Roadway Safety

Tempe, UofA, Phoenix, Goodyear, Show Low, and others received nearly $25.8 million for roadway safety.Photo byFrancesca GrimaonUnsplash

PHOENIX – A total of $25,799,150 in federal funding has been awarded to Arizona cities, counties, and Tribal communities through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, according to the USDOT.

The funding will support a wide range of projects aimed at improving roadway safety, including planning initiatives and the implementation of safety measures to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on the state’s roads, according to the USDOT.

The SS4A program, established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides grants to local, regional, and Tribal communities to address transportation safety through comprehensive planning and direct project implementation.

The funding awarded to Arizona is part of the $1 billion in SS4A grants announced on September 5, 2024, according to the USDOT.

City of Tempe

The City of Tempe received $12,547,668, the largest share of Arizona’s funding, to improve safety along a 3.9-mile stretch of Baseline Road as part of the city’s Vision Zero Action Plan, according to the USDOT.

This section of Baseline Road has experienced 35 fatal or serious-injury crashes between 2017 and 2021, including incidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists.

The project will reduce the number of through lanes, install delineated bike lanes, add signalized pedestrian crossings, and make safety upgrades at intersections.

Other improvements include high-visibility crosswalks, access-control medians, and better lighting to enhance safety for all road users.

“This grant could save lives,” said Tempe Mayor Corey Woods. “The goal of Tempe’s Vision Zero Action Plan is to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries. One way we can do that is making our street infrastructure safer."

University of Arizona

The University of Arizona was awarded $7,483,382 to deploy and analyze the EMS 'Physician 1' Program, which integrates physician-staffed vehicles with advanced medical equipment directly at crash sites, according to the USDOT.

The program will be part of the Pima County Action Plan and aims to provide advanced trauma care at the scene of accidents.

Navajo Nation Division of Transportation

The Navajo Nation Division of Transportation received $1,670,400 to conduct education and public information campaigns for its TravelWell Navajo DOT Demonstration Project, according to the USDOT.

The project will use mapping technology and collaborate with nonprofits to encourage safer behaviors and improve roadway safety on tribal lands.

City of Phoenix

Phoenix was awarded $1,092,500 to assess safety along three major corridors, according to the USDOT.

These studies will collect data and recommend safety measures to reduce accidents and improve road safety on similar corridors throughout the city.

Coconino County

Coconino County was granted $781,200 to develop a comprehensive Road Safety Action Plan, according to the USDOT. This plan will address local road safety issues and guide future projects aimed at reducing accidents and fatalities in the county.

City of Goodyear

Goodyear will use its $624,000 grant to develop a Road Safety Action Plan and conduct a demonstration project evaluating bike lane materials to improve safety for cyclists, according to the USDOT.

Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization

The Yuma Metropolitan Planning Organization was awarded $400,000 to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (CSAP) and conduct a demonstration activity, according to the USDOT. This initiative aims to address regional safety challenges and inform future projects.

City of Chandler

Chandler was awarded $560,000 to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to address critical safety issues and reduce accidents across the city, according to the USDOT.

Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC) received $200,000 to update its existing 2019 Tribal Transportation Safety Plan, ensuring it meets the requirements of the SS4A Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, according to the USDOT.

Town of Fountain Hills

Fountain Hills was granted $240,000 to develop a comprehensive Street Safety Action Plan, which will guide future safety improvements in the town, according to the USDOT.

City of Show Low

Show Low received $200,000 to create a comprehensive Safety Action Plan aimed at improving road safety and reducing accidents, according to the USDOT.

The USDOT's SS4A program is part of a $5 billion initiative aimed at preventing transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries across the U.S.

Over $2.7 billion has already been awarded to more than 1,400 communities since the program’s launch in 2022, according to the USDOT.