Adam RollinsThis story was originally published in the Government Contracting Pipeline newsletter from Strategic Partnerships, Inc. To have the latest government contracting news stories from across the country delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will allocate $30 million to South Carolina to enhance pedestrian infrastructure, mitigate crash rates and improve safety along major high-risk roadways across in three cities. The cities will use the funds to build roundabouts, sidewalks and crosswalks, improve traffic signals and implement traffic and speed control measures.
Spartanburg County will receive $16 million to improve two corridors prone to angle crashes, pedestrian collisions and speeding vehicles. The funds will go toward the project’s total $20 million cost. The county will upgrade the roadways’ traffic signal and timing, manage left-lane turn access and enhance sidewalks and crosswalks. In addition, the project will extend bike lanes, adjust on-street parking spaces, implement road diets, spot safety treatments, an educational campaign and update the Vision Zero Action Plan.
USDOT delivered $8 million to the town of Batesburg-Leesville to fix safety issues such as speeding, lack of guardrails, slow crash-response times and limited pedestrian safety facilities. The funds will go toward the project’s $10 million total cost. Plans include adding rumble strips in advance of curves, installing reflective centerline markings and upgrading advance warning signs. In addition, the town will improve and redesign five intersections to add a roundabout, sidewalks and crosswalks.
The city of Goose Creek will use $6 million to supplement a $7.5 million project to address a dangerous four-lane roadway. The current road configuration encourages speeding and lacks adequate safety measures to protect pedestrians. The project will develop an approximately 3.3-mile shared-use path as an alternative separated from the roadway for non-motorized travelers.
USDOT allocated the funds through the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant program. The SS4A program is a five-year, $5 billion initiative that helps local, rural and tribal communities remediate some of the most dangerous roads in the country to prevent deaths and serious injuries.
The South Carolina projects are a selection of 453 projects receiving a share of the recently announced $1.1 billion. This is the second round of SS4A funding for Fiscal Year 2024, with the first round releasing $63 million in May. Since 2023, the program has allocated $2.7 billion from the available $5 billion. USDOT expects to open the third and final round of Fiscal Year 2024 awards in November.
Photo courtesy Wikideas1
