Oklahoma will receive $21M for road projects to reduce traffic fatalities

TULSA, Okla. — The Biden-Harris administration announced $21.2 million for Oklahoma road improvement projects at the local level to help reduce traffic fatalities nationwide.

The grant is part of $800 million in grant awards for 510 projects through the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program.

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) said Tulsa received $21.2 million for several improvement projects. The Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG), with other joint applicants, aims to improve traffic safety with low-cost, high-impact projects across the region that focus on making intersections safer.

“Travel with Care – Tulsa” will implement the following projects throughout the city:

Upgrading traffic signal backplates
Incorporating flashing yellow arrow traffic signal heads
Installing advanced warning signage for signalized intersections
Adding enhanced stop-controlled intersection signage
Upgrading stop-controlled intersections to LED stop signs
Posting mounted speed feedback signs
Establishing mid-block crossings
Installing rectangular rapid-flash beacons at pedestrian crossings

DOT is also awarding five grants to the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, the City of Guthrie, Grand Gateway Department of Economic and Community Development and INCOG to help improve roadway safety.

DOT said the SS4A grants provide $5 billion over five years for regional, local, and Tribal projects to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. Traffic fatalities claim about 40 thousand lives each year.

“Every year, crashes cost tens of thousands of American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars to our economy; we face a national emergency on our roadways, and it demands urgent action,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “We are proud that these grants will directly support hundreds of communities as they prepare steps that are proven to make roadways safer and save lives.”

This announcement comes a day after $85 million was announced to go to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for Interstate 44 and U.S. Highway 75 interchange improvements in Tulsa.