Funds for Safe Streets and other transportation safety and equity programs are being held up by administrative reviews and conflicts with the Trump administration’s priorities.
Despite a stated commitment to streamlining and efficiency in the Department of Transportation and beyond, “it appears that politicized review requirements may be slowing down grant obligations to awarded projects, especially for those related to safety,” writes Corrigan Salerno in a post on Transportation for America.
As Salerno explains, “Transportation projects must clear multiple stages of political and environmental reviews to reach the construction phase, and it becomes especially complicated when they receive federal assistance in the form of a competitive grant. Under a competitive grant award, the awardee and the federal government need to work together to define their work with USDOT before coming to a grant agreement and having their awarded funding obligated to them.”
Now, some projects that were previously awarded grants are having their funding clawed back, and reviews are leading to a distribution rate 1/10 that of the Biden administration. Although Secretary Duffy has touted a quick grant “approval” process, that approval does not equal “awarded and obligated” funding.
Transportation for America analyzed funding obligations under several federal grant programs: the Safe Streets and Roads for All grants, RAISE/BUILD program, SMART grants, the Reconnecting Communities Pilot, and the Neighborhood Access and Equity program. While the Biden administration obligated $141.7 million per month, the Trump administration is obligating $46.6 million per month. “The Trump administration is obligating funds for the competitive grant programs below at 33 percent the speed of the Biden administration.”
USDOT Launches Unfunded 'SAFE ROADS' Program
The program targets “distractions” and “political messages or artwork,” and paves the way for autonomous vehicles.
Judge Halts Trump Order Tying State Transportation Grants to Immigration Actions
Ruling applies to Colorado, which was among 20 plaintiff states.
Duffy Threatens to Cut DOT Funds to “Sanctuary Cities”
“Follow the law or forfeit the funding” says US Secretary of Transportation.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
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Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Mexico City Anti-Gentrification Plan Aims to Half Housing Deficit
The plan comes in response to protests that targeted ‘digital nomads’ who locals blame for driving up housing costs.
Chicago Has Quietly Built Hundreds of Neighborhood Traffic Circles
Thanks largely to one alderperson’s efforts, the city has made mini-roundabouts a key piece of its road safety strategy.
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