Mayor Hogsett, Congressman Carson, and IndyGo Applaud $19.9 Million Federal Grant to Make Roads Safer

INDIANAPOLIS - This week, the City of Indianapolis and IndyGo were awarded $19.9 million in grant funding from the U.S Department of Transportation for projects that make roads safer for all vulnerable road users. Indianapolis was one of 354 communities selected to receive a portion of the $1 billion in grant money from the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The program is part of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest long-term investment in our nation's infrastructure, and it's paying off right here in Indianapolis," said Congressman André Carson. "Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we're truly transforming our roads, making sidewalks more accessible, and keeping pedestrians and cyclists safe. These improvements have been strategically chosen to better connect every corner of our city to opportunity. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a once-in-a-generation investment that will pay off for generations to come."

Congressman Carson voted for President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The SS4A program provides grants directly to communities for implementation, planning, and demonstration projects aimed at preventing deaths and serious injuries on the nation's roadways. Since launching in 2022, SS4A has funded projects in more than 1,400 communities, supporting roadway safety for nearly 75% of the U.S. population. In Indianapolis, this additional source of funding allows the City and the Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) to continue to prioritize road safety infrastructure alongside the historic investments already made in improving vehicular and pedestrian safety.

"As a recipient of a grant through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, Indianapolis can keep its focus on a future where none of our neighbors lose a loved one in a preventable traffic crash," said Mayor Joe Hogsett. "This grant will allow us to make dramatic changes in the lives of many of our residents by ensuring that they feel safe any time they take a walk, ride their bike, or wait for public transit."

The funding from SS4A aligns with efforts already underway in Indianapolis, such as the Complete Streets ordinance and the proposed Vision Zero ordinance. Both aim to bring multi-modal transportation options to Indianapolis residents, while protecting vulnerable road users. Items in the proposed 2025 City-County Budget also reinforce this commitment, with new investments like a dedicated Vision Zero Administrator and new technology to support Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department in enforcing traffic safety laws.

"The transformative investment in our City's infrastructure is another example of Indy DPW's relentless approach to finding additional resources to make a positive impact in our community," said Indy DPW Director Brandon Herget. "It is also a great example of the strong partnership we have developed between the City, IndyGo and our federal partners. I applaud all of those involved on a successful application and look forward to working together to make these important corridors within our City more safe."

With the SS4A funding, Indy DPW will bring critical safety improvements to six corridors within the city, many of which are in underserved areas lacking infrastructure for pedestrians, transit users, and bicyclists. The SS4A program's grant money will fund the design, engineering, and construction in the following areas:

• North Post Road - Post Rd between Washington St & 38th St
• East 30th Street - E 30th St between Rural St & Franklin Rd
• Lynhurst Drive - Lynhurst Dr between Morris St & W 22nd St
• East 42nd Street - E 42nd St between Franklin Rd & Mitthoefer Rd
• East Franklin Road - Franklin Rd between 30th & 42nd St
• East Thompson Road - Thompson Rd between East St & Madison Ave

The grant will fund improvements and the installation of sidewalks, crosswalks, and trails in these corridors. Also included in this project are IndyGo bus stop improvements in areas near high ridership transit routes. Design work for these projects is set to begin in 2025."IndyGo is looking forward to riders along these corridors experiencing safer and more reliable access to transit, which has long been a priority for us," IndyGo President and CEO Jennifer Pyrz said. "Through this project, we'll celebrate bringing improvements such as upgraded Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant bus stops and pedestrian infrastructure to support our local routes."

In conjunction with the announcement of the SS4A grantees, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its early estimates of national traffic fatalities for the first half of 2024. Estimates show that traffic fatalities declined for the ninth straight quarter. Despite this downward trend, the number of road fatalities remains far too high. Over 40,000 people have died on U.S. roads in each of the last three years, and a disproportionate number of people are killed in rural areas or while walking or bicycling. Additionally, traffic fatalities remain a leading cause of death for school-aged children and young adults.

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