Milpitas receives total of $5 million in grants for traffic and pedestrian safety

Close to $5 million in federal funding has been granted to the City of Milpitas for the sake of improving its traffic and pedestrian safety. 

The Local Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), which was first announced last month, pitched in $2,064,330 toward the total. And last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program awarded Milpitas $2.9 million, meaning the City has accumulated plentiful resources to put toward its street safety. 

In a press release, the City announced that part of the funds shall go toward: 

• Installation of retroreflective backplates and implementation of leading pedestrian intervals (LPI) at all city-owned and maintained traffic signals (79 locations).
• Installation of signage, daylighting, and beacons to improve visibility at three unsignalized intersections.
• Enhancements to the horizontal curve on North McCarthy Boulevard, 500 feet south of the City boundary between Milpitas and Fremont.

Meanwhile, the City’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant initiative is focused on what’s called the “Safe Routes to School” program. This program has been devised to help 13 Milpitas public schools by upgrading their pedestrian and bike safety. It shall entail: 

• Targeted upgrades to intersections near schools, enhancing visibility, signage, and pedestrian crossings to reduce crashes.
• Expansion of safety measures for 13 public schools, aiming to create safer walking and biking routes for students.
• Addressing both known and potential safety concerns along the entire school route network to prevent future incidents.

Said City Manager Ned Thomas in the release, “Investing in our infrastructure is essential to keeping our community safe. These grants will help us make critical improvements to our streets and school routes, ensuring safer travel for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.”

The Milpitas City Council has made public safety and quality of life leading priorities. More funding announcements toward these ends are expected as the year unfolds.