Little Rock officials unveil plans for million federal grant to enhance safety on five traffic corridors

Little Rock Officials Unveil Plans for Million Federal Grant

Little Rock officials have announced their plan to utilize a million federal grant aimed at enhancing safety on five key traffic corridors in the city. This grant is part of a larger federal program, “Safe Streets and Roads for All” (SS4A), which was created through President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The corridors in focus include John Barrow Road, Chicot Road, South University Avenue, South Geyer Springs Road, and the intersection of West 12th and South Woodrow streets. These areas were identified as high-injury sites based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System.

The planned improvements include various safety features and infrastructure enhancements. They will install dedicated bicycle lanes, roundabouts, crosswalk visibility enhancements, and pedestrian islands at crossings. Additionally, lighting enhancements and dedicated left- and right-hand turn lanes at intersections will be implemented to reduce the risk of accidents.

This initiative is particularly significant because pedestrians represent 31% of all roadway fatalities in Little Rock for the five-year period from 2017 to 2021. The safety improvements aim to address this concerning trend, which saw pedestrian deaths increase 119% in the Little Rock metropolitan area over the past five years.

The  …

  • new bike lanes
  • roundabouts
  • crosswalk visibility enhancements
  • pedestrian islands at crossings
  • lighting enhancements
  • dedicated left- and right-hand turn lanes at intersections

Specific Improvements and Funding Breakdown

The project follows a comprehensive plan, focusing not only on infrastructure upgrades but also on research and planning. The city will conduct a planning study for one high-injury network segment and four high-injury intersections that scored in the top 10 segments and top 20 intersections in the region with a need for safety improvements.

The SS4A program seeks to address the broader issue of roadway fatalities across the United States, where an estimated 18,720 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first half of 2023. The program aims to support safety initiatives in over 75% of the U.S. population.

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