Senator Murray Announces over $25 Million in Funding to Improve Pedestrian Safety in Seattle, Over $9 Million for Communities Across the State to Create Safety Plans

Funding will support projects to improve traffic safety in Rainier Valley, SODO, Downtown and U District

ICYMI: Senator Murray Announces Major Funding for Washington State Transportation, Housing Priorities in End-of-Year Package – MORE HERE 

Senator Murray: “Whether you’re walking or cycling to your destination, our streets need to be safe for everyone.”

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced $25.6 million in funding for the City of Seattle to improve traffic safety in underserved neighborhoods across Seattle. The funding comes from the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) initiative through the Department of Transportation (DOT) and was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Senator Murray was a leader in passing. SS4a allocates $5 billion for projects across the country to prevent roadside collisions and death. The funding will go towards the City’s Vision Zero Plan to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

“Whether you’re walking or cycling to your destination, our streets need to be safe for everyone,” said Senator Murray. “Public safety cannot be an afterthought in urban planning. This is a fixable problem, and that is why I fought so hard when we were passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and writing our appropriations bills, to secure funding for the SS4A program. This funding will help save lives and build safer communities in every part of Washington state.”

The City of Seattle is receiving $25.65 million from SS4A and will use the funding to implement low-cost, high impact projects in neighborhoods across the city, including Rainer Valley, Downtown, U District, SODO, and White Center. Specifically, the City plans to fund:

• new sidewalks;
• traffic calming tools like speed cushions; 
• flashing beacons to help people cross the street;
• ADA curb ramps and curb bump-outs, and;
• protected bicycle lanes.

In addition to the City of Seattle, 16 other Washington state communities and counties received SS4A grants to fund action plans to improve traffic safety in communities across the state. This list includes:

• City of Ellensburg – $160,000
• City of Lacey – $68,000
• City of Montesano – $200,000
• City of Toppenish – $80,000
• Grant County – $280,000
• King County – $800,000
• Kittitas County – $429,504
• Thurston County – $264,000
• Walla Walla County – $201,696
• Whatcom Council of Governments – $200,000
• Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments – $200,000
• Island Regional Planning Organization – $403,200
• Northeast Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization – $352,000
• Puget Sound Regional Council – $4,860,363
• Spokane Regional Transportation Council – $400,000
• Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council – $300,000

Senator Murray, a former chair and senior member of the Senate Appropriations Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies subcommittee (T-HUD), secured $90.96 billion in the end-of-year spending package for Washington state priorities in the Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

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