Hawai‘i County, Maui County and the City and County of Honolulu will receive more than $18 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation for projects to improve safety on roads and sidewalks.
The funding comes from the Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) helped create as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that passed in 2021. It builds on previous Schatz-led efforts to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Schatz worked with the counties and advocated for these projects with the Department of Transportation.
“Our roads should be safe for everyone to get around, including pedestrians and cyclists,” said Senator Schatz, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. “This funding from the historic infrastructure law will improve road and sidewalks and keep our communities safe.”
“We are thrilled to secure substantial funds aimed at enhancing the safety and accessibility of our streets for all our residents,” said Hawai‘i County Mayor Mitch Roth. “Thanks to Senator Brian Schatz’s advocacy, we have the opportunity to implement cutting-edge technology in a pilot program on Hilo’s streets. Our gratitude extends to our dedicated team for their tireless commitment to Complete Streets and Hawai‘i County’s Vision Zero Action Plan.”
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The grants to Hawai‘i include:
$3.3 million to the County of Hawai‘i to update the Hawai‘i Island Vision Zero Action Plan. The funding will also be used to pilot technology demonstration activities to design and test innovative ways to improve pedestrian safety.
$13.4 million to the County of Maui for safety improvements on Keawe Street in West Maui. The project includes crosswalks improvements, pedestrian refuge islands, roundabouts, and a buffered bicycle lane to separate vehicular traffic from pedestrians and cyclists. These improvements will enhance road safety for all users and support other development efforts in the surrounding area.
$1.6 million to the City and County of Honolulu for additional planning activities around solutions for pedestrian and bike safety improvements across seven corridors in the downtown Honolulu area.
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