Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced over $37,000,000 in federal funding for localities across Georgia to strengthen road safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers, as well as promote better connectivity among communities. This latest round of funding will enable construction of new streets, pathways, and bridges designed to help Georgians get to and from their destinations in a safe, reliable manner and help enhance the overall quality of life for communities. These latest federal investments will also help local governments create and execute comprehensive safety action plans for further funding opportunities.
The funds were made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program at the Department of Transportation that will provide over $5 billion in grants over the next several years. The funding supports local initiatives through competitive grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. The SS4A program supports the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy which aims to achieve zero deaths or serious injuries on our nation’s roadways.
The City of Carrollton will receive $9,200,000 in federal funds to create a half mile stretch of a Complete Streets system on a busy section of Maple Street—the primary corridor between the University of West Georgia and the downtown square—to make it safer for people who are walking and biking. Although Maple Street was redesignated as a local roadway after serving as Georgia State Route 166, its highway-styled design remains. The downtown area has seen an influx of new businesses and homes, but neighborhood amenities are not easily accessible due to minimal pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly infrastructure. This project will address these issues by installing a roundabout, dedicated bicycle lanes, signal equipment upgrades, crosswalk visibility enhancements, pedestrian crossings, ADA-compliant sidewalks, enhanced lighting, and more. These enhancements will help lower vehicle speeds throughout the corridor and provide safer mobility for Georgians.
