U.S. Representative Panetta Announces Nearly $900,000 in Federal Funding to Prevent Roadway Deaths, Improve Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety
Monterey, CA – U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced nearly $900,000 in Safe Streets for All grants for Santa Cruz County and the City of Monterey. Safe Streets for All Grants will be used to help these localities develop comprehensive action plans to improve roadway safety, reduce roadway fatalities, and lay the groundwork for safer communities. Santa Cruz County received a $687,958 grant, while the City of Monterey received $200,000 in funding.
Traffic fatalities reached a 16-year high in 2021 and preliminary data for 2022 indicates that traffic deaths will remain near those levels while worsening for pedestrians and cyclists. A new report showed traffic crashes have a nearly $340 billion economic impact in 2019 alone.
"Roadway fatalities are so often tragedies that could have been prevented with the right infrastructure or training," said Rep. Panetta. "This federal funding is critical to building safety infrastructure throughout our communities and implementing safety plans needed to better protect the lives of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. I'm proud to deliver these grants back to our 19th Congressional District, where we are trying hard to make our vision of zero roadway deaths a reality."
"Santa Cruz County is committed to ending traffic fatalities and injuries and we see the development of a Vision Zero Action Plan as an important step toward reaching that goal," said Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Chairman Zach Fried. "We thank Congressman Panetta for his support for our efforts to advance safe and equitable mobility in the region."
"As a Vision Zero City, Federal grant safety funding is critical and very much appreciated in order to help us work toward our Vision Zero Goal of zero serious or fatal injuries," said City of Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar.
The Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will provide $5 billion over five years for regional, local, and Tribal initiatives — from redesigned roads to better sidewalks and crosswalks — to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation's roadways. The Department of Transportation is awarding 473 action plan grants and 37 grants for implementation projects in this first round of the program. The Safe Streets and Roads for All program grants support the Department of Transportation's vision of zero roadway deaths and its National Roadway Safety Strategy.
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