Gallego Celebrates DOT Announcement of Comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg recently announced the federal government’s new comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), a roadmap for addressing the national crisis in roadway fatalities and injuries. Bolstered by the historic funding of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which includes roadway safety language co-authored by Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), the NRSS is the first step towards the long-term goal of ending roadway fatalities.
“I am incredibly glad to see DOT taking serious steps to address roadway safety across the country,” said Rep. Gallego. “Unfortunately, the streets in my district have consistently ranked as among the most dangerous in the U.S for pedestrians and motorists. I co-authored legislation two years ago to try and tackle this crisis, and I could not be happier to see some of that same language being put to work today as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Fatalities due to traffic crashes are not a forgone conclusion, but rather the result of poor roadway design and systemic underinvestment in communities of color like the ones I represent. I thank President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for their continued commitment to improving the quality of life for all Americans, a commitment reflected in this new National Roadway Safety Strategy.”
“The City of Phoenix prioritizes the safety of drivers and pedestrians, but recent data shows a steady and alarming increase in traffic collisions and fatalities in our city streets,” said Kini Knudson, Director of the Street Transportation Department, City of Phoenix. “The Comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy recognizes the dire need for a more coordinated approach to reducing roadway crashes and deaths, and aligns well with our Mayor and Council’s desire and direction to develop a comprehensive Road Safety Action Plan for Phoenix. More importantly, the strategy emphasizes the need to invest in infrastructure, update policies, and deliver results.”
In 2019, AZ-07 was the #1 congressional district in pedestrian roadway deaths in the country. That same year, Rep. Gallego introduced H.R. 1289, the Complete Streets Act with Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), part of which was included in the final version of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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. “Complete streets” can accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit users, rather than just cars and freight vehicles. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) includes a provision based on the Complete Streets Act that sets aside 2.5 percent of highway planning funding for designing “complete streets” projects and policies that will improve safety and accessibility for all users of the road.
In 2021, Rep. Gallego worked with the City of Phoenix to set aside funding in a House bill to improve some of the most dangerous intersections in the region as identified by the Maricopa Associations of Governments (MAG), many of which are located in his District. This NRSS and road safety funding in BIL finishes what he started by providing the tools necessary to improve safety at high-risk sites like these.
A forceful advocate for improving the infrastructure in the city of Phoenix and Arizona at large, Rep. Gallego proudly supported the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and continues to advocate for safer streets, expanded public transportation, and infrastructure improvements which create jobs and grow our economy sustainably and equitably.
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