Sen. Thom Tillis announces $4.4 million grant to improve intersections in Charlotte
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U.S. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced Friday he has helped secure a $4.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to reduce traffic crashes through infrastructure improvements in the Charlotte-area.
The grant will help implement systemic Vision Zero strategies and will focus on intersections and pedestrian-involved crashes.
Projects will include pedestrian hybrid beacons, a pedestrian refuge island, traffic signals, buffered bicycle lanes, leading pedestrian interval upgrades, and safe routes to school activities, according to Tillis.
The grant is coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Tillis took part in negotiating for and pass into law.
“This grant is a big win for Charlotte and will ensure safe and reliable transportation for pedestrians around the city,” said Senator Tillis. “I was proud to advocate for this funding and help negotiate and support the bipartisan infrastructure law to bring this investment to our great state.”
The grant will first fund projects along the city’s high-injury network, focusing on the highest tiers. Seventy-seven percent of the projects will fall within or border an underserved community, according to Tillis.
From 2016 to 2020, 896 fatal and serious injury crashes occurred in Charlotte. Using 2017 data, people walking and bicycling were involved in fewer than 3% of all crashes yet accounted for 44% of all traffic deaths, data provided by Tillis showed.
(WATCH BELOW: Family, organizations gather with Vision Zero Charlotte to promote safe driving)
