The city of Las Cruces announced the Federal Highway Administration has granted the city $400,000 through the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The grant was awarded to enhance safety measures in the city through comprehensive planning and demonstration activities.
The city's effort to secure this funding began earlier in the year. Earlier this year, the City applied for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Planning Grant, and it is currently awaiting the grant award agreement from the Federal Highway Administration, a process that may span several weeks. The grant allocated to the City is part of a $680,000 sum designated for various New Mexico communities. The grant's purpose is to support the revision of Las Cruces' Active Transportation Plan, emphasizing the importance of designing streets for the safety of vulnerable users. This initiative aims to implement temporary enhancements to streets for improved safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. The long-term intent of the project is to improve Las Cruces’ opportunities for future federal grant funding to incorporate these new techniques on a permanent basis, according to a press release by the city of Las Cruces.
As part of its mission, FHWA contributes significantly towards infrastructural development across various jurisdictions. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation, provides assistance to State and local governments for planning, construction, and upkeep of national highways system (Federal Aid Highway Program) and federally and tribally owned lands (Federal Lands Highway Program). Offering both financial and technical support, FHWA plays a crucial role in guaranteeing safety and technological advancement on America's roads and highways according to information from FHWA website provided by U.S. Department of Transportation.
This particular allocation falls under a broader initiative defined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) instituted the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program, allocating $5 billion over a five-year period from 2022 to 2026. This initiative supports regional, local, and Tribal projects through grants aimed at preventing fatalities and severe injuries on roadways according to information on SS4A website provided by U.S. Department of Transportation.
