$21 Million From The Safe Streets And Roads For All Program Will Go To Projects In New York City To Prevent Roadway Deaths And Serious Injuries In Areas Such As Delancey Street
Senator Gillibrand And Representative Espaillat Are Also Calling For Funding For The Stopping Threats On Pedestrians (STOP) Act To Further Protect Pedestrians
New York, N.Y. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joined Representative Adriano Espaillat, Representative Dan Goldman, Representative Nydia Velázquez, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, New York City Council Member Chris Marte, New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera, New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Assemblymember Grace Lee, and local advocates to announce over $37 million in grant awards through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, which will help improve road safety and address traffic fatalities throughout New York. This includes more than $21 million for projects in New York City.
The SS4A grant program, established by the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will provide $5 billion in grants over the next five years to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. New York City will receive a total of $21,481,306 through the program this funding cycle, with roughly $18 million going toward improving a segment of Delancey Street.
The funds are part of Senator Gillibrand’s continuous efforts to work with officials at all levels to upgrade infrastructure and lower pedestrian fatalities. Senator Gillibrand and Representative Adriano Espaillat are also calling on the Office of Management and Budget to include funding for the Stopping Threats on Pedestrians (STOP) Act in the President’s budget for Fiscal Year 2024. Passed in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the STOP Act authorizes $5 million in annual grants for bollards and barricades to protect pedestrian spaces from large vehicles but has not yet been funded.
“I am proud to have worked to secure these millions of dollars in funding that will go toward improving roads and preventing future traffic tragedies in our communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Revamping our transportation infrastructure with innovative technology to upgrade street design, traffic sensors, and bikeways will promote safety for drivers and pedestrians alike. I’ll keep fighting to bring federal dollars back home to New York.”
“Security enhancing bollard installation projects are a critical component in our efforts to heighten public safety infrastructure,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “With today’s announcement, our shared goal is to alleviate the threat of devastating vehicular attacks and to ensure that nondrivers and drivers alike are safe. No one should fear walking on sidewalks, going to parks, or making use of other community and public spaces. No risk is too small, and we urge the OMB to include this federal funding to ensure the implementation of safety bollards that are proven to help save lives.”
“The Delancey Street Corridor has been the site of far too many accidents and tragedies. I’ve long advocated for public safety upgrades and investments to make the Lower East Side safer for traffic, cyclist, and pedestrians.” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “Thanks to the funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Safe Streets for All initiative, we can invest in infrastructure improvements that help New Yorkers feel safe in this community. I was proud to work with my colleagues in Congress to help make this vision a reality.”
“This $21.5 million Safe Streets for All implementation grant that includes capital funding for safety upgrades at the high-injury Delancey Street corridor is incredible news for NY’s 10th Congressional District,” said Rep. Dan Goldman. “Democrats deliver, and we will continue to push for infrastructure improvements that save lives and bring us closer to the vision of a safer New York for pedestrians, cyclists, and micro-mobility users.”
“The critical work our administration will undertake on Delancey Street will make it safer for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “This corridor is a vital cycling hub, and we are committed to making it more welcoming for cyclists at all ability levels. Thank you to Senator Gillibrand, the New York City congressional delegation, and USDOT for supporting our work to end traffic violence.”
“Thank you to the Biden Administration, USDOT, and our elected officials who, through the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, recognized the critical role local government plays in improving street safety,” said New York City Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “New York City is a leader in the fight against traffic violence, and these funds will turn Delancey Street from one of the most dangerous corridors to one of the most inviting, while funding analysis key to reallocating roadway space throughout our city for the growing number of non-vehicle modes like pedal bikes, e-bikes, scooters, cargo bikes, and of course feet.”
“This funding will bring a transformative safety upgrade to Delancey Street, a critical cycling corridor connecting to the Williamsburg Bridge and some of the city’s busiest bike lanes on Manhattan’s East Side. With this funding Delancey will become a much calmer street with more welcoming spaces for cyclists and pedestrians and simplified road layout for drivers,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “We thank Sen. Gillibrand and the Biden administration for their support and commitment to Vision Zero.”
“Delancey Street is among the most dangerous corridors in Manhattan and is in dire need of a redesign that ensures all New Yorkers can travel safely,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “I’m grateful for Senator Gillibrand’s leadership to help secure this funding, and look forward to working with the Mayor, NYC DOT, and local stakeholders to ensure that we can continue to essential work of making our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and all users of our streetscape.”
“Every day 104,700 cars, 6,700 cyclists, and 5,500 pedestrians travel Delancey Street crossing the Williamsburg Bridge in both directions. Delancey Street serves all of New York. However, the conditions on Delancce Street impact the people who live in the surrounding neighborhoods on the Lower East Side the most. The congestion, traffic, and unsafe conditions negatively impact residents’ daily lives. It’s time to make investments to ensure that these streets are safe for the surrounding community,” said Assemblymember Grace Lee. “In this predominantly low-income community of color on the Lower East Side, today’s investment is not just a street safety issue but an environmental justice and racial justice issue.”
“When we invest in safer infrastructure, we protect pedestrians, bikers, and drivers alike,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. “Delancey Street was not designed with the safety of New Yorkers in mind, and it has endangered community members for years. That is why I celebrate this investment in Delancey Street, which will help ensure its users are safe from traffic violence. I look forward to continuing citywide investment in safe streets, including in long-neglected Black and Brown and low-income communities.”
“We welcome federal investment for Delancey Street, one of the major arteries of our City and one of the major headaches for Lower East Siders. Congestion coming on and off the Williamsburg Bridge is a huge environmental concern for this area that is still predominantly low-income people of color. Cars and trucks can be backed up for hours during peak commuting times with exhaust so bad that you can smell Delancey Street before you can see it. The streets that feed into Delancey are also in need of major redesign not just to reduce traffic but for pedestrian and biker safety. Accidents are at least a weekly occurrence, and tragedies are too common,” said Council Member Chris Marte. “In the last 5 years, we have seen massive developments open along this corridor that not only restrict air flow and worsen air pollution from idling cars, but also bring in a new population, including senior housing, who have to navigate this hellscape every day. There are still areas without crosswalks or stop signs, missing traffic lights that were promised to the community, and bike lanes that require riders to cross dangerous intersections without proper protection. We have been working with NYC’s Department of Transportation to install pilot programs and fiddle with all the challenges facing Delancey Street, but this major federal investment is a welcome reinvigoration for our efforts and will bring the large scale change the Lower East Side desperately needs.”
“Delancey Street is one of the most egregious examples of roads that must be redesigned to protect the wellbeing and lives of New Yorkers. For many years residents have been fighting to improve safety on this corridor, so I am grateful for this significant investment from the Biden administration which not only supports concrete changes, but supports the study of micro-mobility options to holistically improve street safety. I look forward to being a partner in the work to improve this vital connection,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera (D-02 Manhattan). “I also commend our federal representatives who continue to advocate for more infrastructure investments. We must expand open space, improve bike, bus, and subway infrastructure, reduce the amount of cars on the street, incentivize multi-modal transportation, and make choices that improve accessibility and quality of life.”
“Delancey Street, within the top 10% most dangerous corridors in Manhattan, is in need of a redesign centered on the safety of pedestrians and people riding bikes. We thank Senator Gillibrand and other lawmakers for bringing this federal grant money to New York City to make this long overdue project a reality, as well as funding intelligent speed assistance for city vehicles. With traffic fatalities still above pre-pandemic levels in New York City, action at all levels of government is needed to stem this crisis — starting with safe infrastructure. These measures will save lives,” said Anna Melendez, Manhattan Organizer at Transportation Alternatives.
“We were happy to support NYCDOT’s application for this Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, and are thrilled that USDOT has awarded New York City this critical funding. Redesigning Delancey Street will have immediate, concrete safety benefits on one of the city’s most dangerous streets, and the development of a Pedestrian Model and Micromobility Planning Toolkit will be crucial for improving safety across all five boroughs,” said StreetsPAC Executive Director Eric McClure. “But we’re even more excited about what the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant will mean for expanding use of Intelligent Speed Assistance in New York City, given the incredibly positive results reported last month for the city’s 50-vehicle pilot effort. This cutting-edge technology has the potential to save many lives, and we look forward to its eventual use throughout the city fleet, and beyond.”
“My husband Ray was killed in 2011 cycling to work across Canal Street on a similar dysfunctional road system, very close to Delancey Street. Too many New Yorkers are still experiencing the unnecessary pain that our family endured due to an unsafe street system. We’re grateful to Senator Gillibrand and our partners in government for funding to make Delancey Street safe for all who use it, as well as to install intelligent speed assist on city vehicles. We urge the City of New York to implement these life-saving projects without delay,” said Families for Safe Streets member Catherine Lepp.
The SS4A program grants aim to improve safety planning and fund comprehensive, data-driven local and regional efforts to fundamentally change how roadway safety is addressed in communities. These investments come as traffic fatalities continue to be an issue, particularly on Delancey Street, with more than 200 crashes occurring in the area over the last decade.
New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) intends to use the funds to finance two projects aimed at addressing vulnerable road user safety: developing a pedestrian/micromobility planning model/toolkit (nearly $3 million; includes sensors, pedestrian demand model, policy improvements, and outreach) and improving a segment of Delancey Street (roughly $18 million; includes road diet, separated bikeway, accessibility improvements, and reconstruction). Funds from the SS4A grant program will also be distributed to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe ($10,235,200), Capital District Transportation Committee ($1,150,000), SUNY Stony Brook ($1,000,000), City of Ithaca ($600,000), Nassau County ($480,000), Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority ($450,000), Onondaga County ($450,000), Oneida County ($415,969.95), City of White Plains ($400,000), Town of Brookhaven ($380,000), Lake Champlain – Lake George Regional Planning Board ($320,000), Village of Kiryas Joel ($264,000), and City of Jamestown ($248,685.44).
The full letter can be found here.