Little Rock Receives Million for Road Safety Improvements
The City of Little Rock has been awarded million by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for road safety improvements under the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The funding will go towards making improvements to five major corridors along the city’s high-injury network.
This massive investment is part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has committed billion to improve roadway safety across the country. The SS4A program was established to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries by supporting local initiatives.
The million grant will be used to implement more than 20 safety measures, including bicycle lanes, crosswalk visibility enhancements, medians, and pedestrian refuge islands. Additionally, the project will focus on corridor access management, dedicated turn lanes, roundabouts, safety edges, and lighting enhancements. These improvements aim to reduce pedestrian fatalities, which currently account for 31% of roadway fatalities in Little Rock.
The Little Rock Safe Streets For All project is crucial for addressing the city’s alarming traffic safety record. A recent study ranked Little Rock as the 10th most dangerous metropolitan area in the United States for pedestrian deaths, with a 119% increase in pedestrian fatalities between 2017 and 2022. This project moves the city closer to its goal of reducing crashes with serious injuries or death by 40% over the next 15 years.
Other Arkansas cities and counties received grant funds through the SS4A program, including Springdale, which received .187 million for the Dean’s Trail Phase IIIB project. This trail segment will complete an important multi-use trail loop, separating pedestrians and cyclists from motor vehicle traffic and closing a critical gap in regional active transportation facilities.
The SS4A program has already made a significant impact, supporting roadway safety for nearly 75% of the U.S. population and funding projects in over 1,400 communities across the country. This latest round of funding underscores the importance of addressing road safety, focusing on infrastructure improvements to reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
While the work to achieve zero roadway deaths continues, this major investment in Little Rock’s infrastructure will have far-reaching benefits, enhancing the safety of the city’s roads for all users, including drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and those with disabilities. The Little Rock Safe Streets For All project marks a significant step towards ensuring that America’s roads are safer for everyone.
