Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

Metro Creative Graphics
Metro Creative Graphics

Higgins: $450,000 for NFTA regional safety action plan

Submitted

Tue, Jan 31st 2023 04:50 pm

Federal funds allocated through ‘Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’

Congressman Brian Higgins announced the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) has been awarded a $450,000 federal grant. The funding, made possible through the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” supports NFTA’s development of a regional safety action plan for Erie and Niagara counties.

Higgins said, “Efficient and safe roads, bridges and transit is the goal of all transportation systems. It’s critical to take a continuous improvement mode approach to safety. The ‘Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’ supports this objective. We applaud the NFTA and GBNRTC for seeking out this competitive funding on behalf of our community.”

NFTA Executive Director Kim Minkel said, “We are so appreciative to Congressman Higgins for this needed funding. This federal grant will help us, and our partners at the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council, continue to provide safe, affordable and accessible transportation to our community. We are thankful to Congressman Higgins for always putting the safety of Western New Yorkers first.”

GBNRTC Executive Director Mike Finn said, “The Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council is proud to partner with of our member agencies on the effort to study the safety of our regional transportation system. Safety is a key factor in the success of a transportation system, and advancing improvements that lead to safer roadways is critical as the use of the system evolves.”

The funding was provided through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. The “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” included $5 billion for the SS4A over a five-year period. The goal of the program is to improve transportation safety and reduce injuries and deaths.

According to the USDOT, between 2011 and 2020, more than 370,000 people died in transportation incidents, with fatalities trending in the wrong direction. The SSFA is part of a comprehensive national effort, which includes infrastructure improvements, vehicle safety features, and other measures, working to reduce that trend.

Hometown News

View All News