U.S. House of Representatives introduce bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and improve road safety program

Key Takeaways

On September 18, U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.-09), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01) and Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42) introduced the Safe Streets for All Reauthorization and Improvement Act (H.R. 5452). This bipartisan bill would reauthorize and build upon the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program to reduce roadway fatalities and accidents.  

The SS4A program, first authorized in 2021 in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides direct federal funding for local, regional and Tribal governments to develop and implement roadway safety strategies. To date, SS4A has supported efforts in more than 1,600 communities nationwide to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

What the bill would do

The Safe Streets for All Reauthorization and Improvement Act would:

• Reauthorize the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program at $5 billion annually from FY 2027 through FY 2031
• Direct more funding toward implementation projects by lowering the required set-aside for planning grants from 40 percent to a minimum of 20 percent. This ensures more resources go to tangible safety improvements like crosswalks, bike lanes, lighting, roundabouts and other infrastructure upgrades
• Maintain direct funding access to local, regional and Tribal governments so communities can design and carry out safety solutions tailored to their needs

Impact on counties

Counties own and maintain 44 percent of public roads and 38 percent of bridges nationwide, making roadway safety a top priority. Yet, the challenges remain significant: in 2023, over 40,000 people died in traffic crashes, with 41 percent of those fatalities occurring in rural areas that comprise only about 20 percent of the U.S. population.

By reauthorizing and strengthening SS4A, this legislation would provide counties with critical resources to prevent crashes, protect all road users and move closer to the national goal of zero fatalities.

NACo endorses the Safe Streets for All Reauthorization and Improvement Act to invest and improve transportation safety. The SS4A program empowers counties of all sizes to implement lifesaving infrastructure improvements that make our communities safer and more connected.

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