Buttigieg tells states to consider safety for road projects
By HOPE YEN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government has a new warning to states seeking billions of dollars from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law to widen roads: You must protect the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists or risk losing the money. In a new report to Congress, the Transportation Department says it will aim to prioritize the safety and health of all the users of a roadway, not just cars. When distributing highway grants, the Transportation Department will favor road features such as bike paths, enhanced sidewalks and transit lanes. The new strategy comes in response to spiking U.S. traffic fatalities, including many Black Americans and those outside of vehicles on roadways such as bicyclists.
