Larisa Manescu, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
NATIONWIDE - Today, the US Department of Transportation announced $800 million in grants to fund 510 projects in communities across the country to make both urban and rural neighborhoods safer for people to walk and bike. This funding comes out of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed last year, and represents the first round of funding for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program.
"Every day, cyclists and pedestrians in neighborhoods across the country are put in harm’s way trying to get to work, to school, to the grocery store, said Katherine García, Director of the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign. “This is a policy failure, which means it can be a policy success with the right investment. These Department of Transportation grants will support much-needed infrastructure projects.”
"The Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter is thrilled to see these much needed investments in communities most in need of mobility and road safety improvements,” said Dave Cortez, Director of the Lone Star Chapter. “From the west side of San Antonio to Southwest Houston and up into Austin's Eastern Crescent, working class people of color and disability rights advocates have been calling for basic needs and services like crosswalks and wider sidewalks. These grants are a victory for everyday Texans who depend on safer streets to get to school, work, and stores."
“Charlotte is a sprawling city with a transportation system that is not designed with the safety of pedestrians or cyclists in mind, but advocates (myself included) have been hard at work for years to change that,” said Rebekah Whilden, Senior Campaign Representative with the Sierra Club’s Clean Transportation for All campaign and Charlotte resident. “We’re receiving over $4 million to implement our city’s Vision Zero strategy, which will include ensuring kids have a safe route to school and will prioritize underserved communities for the majority of the projects.”
“Detroit has a lot to gain from the over $24 million we’re receiving in grant money to invest in pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to save lives,” said Erma Leaphart, Organizer with Sierra Club Michigan. “Although our city tops national lists for traffic fatalities, we are not a designated Vision Zero City like Washington DC or New York City. We have a lot of work to do to make our streets safe for everyone.”
“Boston and Springfield will receive over $20 million in funding to improve streets in some of the most underserved neighborhoods with a focus on the most dangerous and high-fatality intersections. Getting around without a car should never be a gamble on someone’s life. The more people feel safe to bike and walk in our cities, the more they will feel empowered to do so,” said Veena Dharmaraj, Director of Transportation at the Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter.
"This is a significant step towards addressing historical and contemporary underinvestments in Black and Brown communities in Seattle," said Wes Stewart, Clean Transportation for All Organizer with the Washington State Chapter. "With this grant of over $25 million, Seattle can begin correcting mistakes. It's critical that this is done in an equitable and informed manner. It's imperative the city intentionally engages residents of the project areas, not just career urbanists, in how to reshape their neighborhoods."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.