Gallego Announces Nearly $25 Million to Improve Safety Along Dangerous Corridor of Indian School Road
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) announced the City of Phoenix will receive $24,962,745 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the ReVISIONing Indian School Road project. The funds will be used to improve intersection and pedestrian infrastructure along Indian School Road between 91st and 39th Avenues.
“It’s a sad fact that the Valley has some of the most dangerous roads in the nation, especially for pedestrians. That’s why I’ve consistently fought to make our streets safer,” said Rep. Gallego. “These dollars that I helped secure will saves lives and help Arizonans get where they need to go safely.”
There were 39 fatal and 85 serious-injury crashes (124 total) in the project corridor between 2017 and 2021, resulting in 39 people killed and 109 people seriously injured. Of the 39 fatalities, 48 percent involved people walking or biking, 52 percent occurred when it was dark, and 35 were left-turn collisions.
These factors and existing conditions of the corridor will be addressed through a suite of highly effective, safety-targeted project improvements, including the installation of sidewalks, pedestrian beacons, crossing improvements, and lighting improvements. Of the proposed project area’s adjacent Census tracts, 95 percent are categorized as disadvantaged communities.
Background on Rep. Gallego’s Work to Improve Street Safety
In 2019, Rep. Gallego introduced the Complete Streets Act, legislation that would promote safer and more accessible transportation routes across the United States. A "complete street" is one designed to provide safe and accessible transportation options for multiple modes of travel, as well as for people of all ages and abilities.
Rep. Gallego’s Complete Streets Act was included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, better known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The legislation requires that states and metropolitan planning organizations set aside 2.5 percent of their highway planning funding for designing “complete streets” projects and policies that will improve pedestrian safety and accessibility for all users of the road.
In 2022, Rep. Gallego secured $3,500,000 in Community Project Funding to design and build overhead pedestrian bridges in downtown Tolleson across 91st Avenue just south of Van Buren Street and across Van Buren Street at 95th Avenue.