Many states in the U.S. were hoping to receive billions of dollars from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law to widen roads. However, the federal government made it clear that they must protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists or risk losing the money they seek for widening roads.

Department Of Transportation’s Stance on This

A report by the Department of Transportation was submitted to Congress and was then made public. The report clearly stated that the primary priority is the safety and health of those using today’s modern roadways. It would include everyone, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, users of public transport, electric scooter riders, and workers delivering goods. 

They also mentioned that since safety is the priority, projects such as bike paths and traffic roundabouts, pedestrian pathways, bus stops, and transit lanes will be given priority when distributing the money.

What the Department Hopes to Change

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is currently leading the department. He and the department want to shift the focus from just using federal money toward adding car lanes to relieve speeding and congestion. They want to adopt the Federal Highway Administration’s “Complete Streets” strategy, which is already followed by hundreds of communities.

It is believed that this strategy will positively impact the safety of all roadway users. It could also prove vital in reversing the trend of increasing severe and fatal injuries in road traffic accidents. It will also create a healthier, eco-friendly, and equitable surface transportation system.

Pete Buttigieg clearly stated in a congressional hearing that the department would consider safety, climate, and other factors when it comes to awarding billions of dollars in competitive grants. The department also said that cities that proposed “cap and stitch” plans to build green spaces on top of underground highways and connect divided communities would likely be eligible for different funds from the federal government. Buttigieg has even mentioned a need to rectify a history of the racist designs of roads.

Opposition to Buttigieg’s Ideas

Resistance from Republican-led states and governors is expected as they want their road projects to be picked. Some are already stating that the bipartisan law is a vehicle for Biden’s liberal causes. Certain people are worried that these changes would cause the rural areas to lose out.

Top Republican on the Infrastructure Committee and House Transportation and Missouri Rep. Sam Graves said, “Americans expect real infrastructure and new roads — not a vehicle for the administration’s woke agenda,” 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator Shelley Moore Capito criticized a December memo by the highway administration in a letter sent to the government house.

The memo had encouraged the states to use the new funding to maintain and improve the existing highways first and then add additional lanes. According to McConnell and Capito, states should spend the funds as seen fit by the state to meet local needs.

Data on Road Traffic Fatalities

Approximately 33% of the deaths in road traffic accidents in the United States are people who were outside the vehicles. New data has shown that 38,824 lives were lost in traffic crashes in 2020, with exceptionally high levels for motorcyclists and bicyclists. The Governors Highway Safety Association also released data that showed a 5% hike in pedestrian deaths from 2019 to 2020.

U.S. traffic fatalities for Black people increased to 23% compared with 7% overall in 2020. According to a report, one reason for this could be that lower-income Black residents have a high possibility to live next to pedestrian crash hotspots. 

Final Verdict

According to Car Accident Attorney Maxwell Paderewski, “Certain cities such as Atlanta, Austin, and Nashville have worked hard to raise funds to build out green-friendly transit options, reduce fatalities by slowing traffic, and bring together racially divided communities by highways. These efforts will influence how much funding they receive in the future.”

The Federal Highway Administration said that it would issue updated guidance on how the money should be utilized in the upcoming weeks.