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

Press Release

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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