Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards Over $12.4 Million to Improve Road Safety Grant funding will support nonprofits, municipal police and state agencies
BRAINTREE – The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded more than $12.4 million in federal traffic safety funding to promote safer roads in communities across Massachusetts.
A total of $12,419,715.75 in grant funds were awarded through three grant programs – the Municipal Road Safety Grant Program, State Agency Traffic Safety Grant Program and Underserved Communities Traffic Safety Grant Program, which was introduced for the first time this year. The programs utilize federal funding awarded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The funds are managed and administered in Massachusetts by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR).
“Everyone deserves to be safe on Massachusetts streets, whether traveling by car, foot, public transportation or bike. As individual communities work to address their unique traffic safety concerns, these programs provide resources and supports that will ensure they have the tools they need to protect road users,” said Governor Maura Healey.
“These programs, taken together, represent a holistic approach to addressing road safety concerns. No one agency or approach can resolve these issues, but the combination of prevention, enforcement, education and outreach initiatives funded through these grants will ensure safer roads for all in Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll.
The newly created Underserved Communities Traffic Safety Grant Program will deliver $282,378.92 to support outreach and educational programs directed toward low-income communities and specifically Environmental Justice Populations. This marks the first time that OGR has offered a traffic safety grant program strictly for nonprofit organizations. Funded nonprofits will provide programs focused on improving pedestrian safety, programming for teen drivers, impaired driving prevention, distracted driving awareness and other areas of need.
Funds awarded to municipal police departments through the Municipal Road Safety Grant Program will allow the departments to afford initiatives that include conducting traffic safety enforcement, bicyclist and pedestrian safety enforcement, non-enforcement activities such as trainings or community events, and purchasing traffic safety equipment or safety items to distribute in the community such as bike helmets. This year, OGR awarded $5,637,336.83 to 191 departments – a record number of recipients for the program.
In addition, six state agencies will receive grants totaling $6.5 million through the State Agency Traffic Safety Grant Program. Funding will support projects including training, educational and outreach programs, enforcement and crash prevention efforts.
“The initiatives funded through these grant programs will ensure that drivers in communities across the state are better informed and safer behind the wheel. These grants promote strong partnerships between nonprofits, community members and public safety officials. Those relationships are key to our public safety strategy,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy.
“These grants fund critical initiatives that will help us toward our goal of reducing traffic crashes, serious injuries and fatalities in Massachusetts. We’re proud to work with local, state, federal and nonprofit partners as well as community stakeholders to improve traffic safety for all road users,” said OGR Executive Director Kevin Stanton.
“MassDOT is pleased to work collaboratively with municipal leaders, non-profits, and other partners to further improve road safety,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “Reducing traffic deaths and injuries requires a whole-of-government approach and MassDOT will continue to engage stakeholders in support of public education, the development of safety action plans, and the installation of infrastructure to make travel safer for everyone in our cities and towns.”
“The federal funding will support steps to reduce injuries and deaths on our roadways,” said Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie. “All of us in the transportation field and the public sector are grateful for additional resources that help to prevent impaired driving and raise awareness about the danger of distracted driving so that we can have safer roads for our residents and everyone passing though Massachusetts.”
“Education, training, and partnerships are all important elements to helping improve the safety of everyone on our roads,” said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “We are grateful that these grant programs are awarding millions of dollars across the state as the funding will help expand safety initiatives and give municipal leaders and partners additional resources to work with.”
For the full press release and award amounts click the link. Municipal Road Safety Program FY25 Press Release
