Walla Walla to Receive $2.48M for Roadway Improvements to Reduce Traffic-Related Deaths

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and senior member of the Finance Committee, announced that Walla Walla County Public Works, the city of Union Gap, and the town of Naches will each receive funding to make their roadways safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program. With this new round of awards, Washington state communities have received a total of $88.8 million for 78 different projects through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program since it was established.
The grants announced today include:
Walla Walla County Public Works will receive $2,487,960 for safety improvements.This award will be used by Walla Walla County to improve safety at five high-priority segments and intersections totaling 3.3 miles. Work includes:
The City of Union Gap will receive $143,120 to conduct a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and ADA Transition Plan.Work includes network inventory, crash and speed analyses, field observations, public outreach, an ADA sidewalk and curb ramp condition assessment, draft recommendations with prioritized Proven Safety Countermeasures, and final Action Plans to guide implementation and improve transportation safety and accessibility.
The Town of Naches will receive $88,000 to conduct a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and ADA Transition Plan.Work includes crash-data review, a field inventory of sidewalks and curb ramps, public engagement, draft and final plans, and an implementation-prioritized list of low-cost countermeasures (curb extensions, accessible crossings, traffic calming) to reduce serious injuries and fatalities and guide future safety investments.
Sen. Cantwell authored the Safe Streets and Roads For All program, steered its authorization through the Commerce Committee, and ensured that the program was among the transportation investments included inthe 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law(BIL). Since the law's signing in November 2021, it has funded more than 1,600 transportation projects in the state including road, bridge, and port projects.
Safe Streets and Roads for All grants help local governments carry out Vision Zero plans and other improvements to reduce crashes and fatalities, including for cyclists and pedestrians. These projects are critical to stem therise of pedestrian fatalities in the state.
Data about Washington state traffic collisions and fatalities broken down by city and county is availableHERE.