California allocates $300M for enhanced local road safety measures

Caltrans announced a huge cash injection for road safety - $300 million is heading to local communities across California.

This money comes from a federal program aimed at cutting down on deadly crashes and serious injuries on our roads. The funds are expected to help fix up roads across the state.

Caltrans is rolling out a new "Safe System" plan – which looks at road safety from all angles –including better road design. They're aiming for zero deaths and major injuries on state roads by 2050.

“Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, California remains committed to helping ensure that every Californian has access to safe and reliable transportation, no matter who they are or where they live," Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said. “These investments highlight our people-first approach, because we know it will pay the most important dividend of all – their safety.”

This new approach builds on Caltrans' existing efforts to make safety a top priority in how we get around. Where they can, Caltrans will build "complete streets" that work for everyone - drivers, walkers, bikers, and bus riders alike.

In order to make roadways safer, California has allocated $1.5 billion to local safety improvements since 2007. These projects have included the installation of rumble strips, flashing beacons, warning signs, roadway lights, delineators, and new sidewalks.

California's not alone in this zero-deaths goal - other states including Colorado and Montana are pushing for the same thing. More and more, people are realizing that traffic deaths don't have to be a "cost of doing business" when it comes to getting around.

Cities across California getting this money will have a chance to make all sorts of safety upgrades. It’ll be used for new stoplights, better intersections, more bike lanes, safer crosswalks, and other tweaks to keep vulnerable road users safe.