Columbia to receive $1.4 million to improve roads, curb traffic fatalities

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia will be getting some financial help from the federal government to improve its roads and hopefully reduce traffic deaths.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced in a Wednesday press release that $800 million in grant awards for 510 projects through the Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant Program would be issued. Ten grants are for communities in Missouri, including Columbia and Sedalia. The grant program provides $5 billion over five years for regional, local and Tribal initiatives to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways.

Columbia was awarded $1,440,000, while Sedalia is receiving $200,000, according to online records. About $4.4 million is being used in Missouri.

Traffic fatalities in the U.S. reached a 16-year high in 2021 and preliminary data indicates 2022 is about the same, according to the press release. A  report from the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates the economic impact of traffic crashes was $340 billion in 2019. 

“Every year, crashes cost tens of thousands of American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars to our economy; we face a national emergency on our roadways, and it demands urgent action,” Buttigieg said in a press release. “We are proud that these grants will directly support hundreds of communities as they prepare steps that are proven to make roadways safer and save lives.”   

Other cities and entities receiving money include: Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, Carthage Gower, Kirkwood, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Northeast Missouri Regional Planning Commission and Ozarks Transportation Organization.