Contact: Bart Ney, Caltrans D4
bart.ney@dot.ca.gov (510) 715-7212
SACRAMENTO — Caltrans awarded more than $227 million on March 25
to fund safety projects designed to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries on city and county roads. Funding is provided through the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program.
“Safety is always our number one priority,” said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. “These projects will enhance systemwide safety features, including expanded access to protected walkways and bikeways, and will move us closer to our goal of reducing serious injuries and fatalities on California roadways.”
Projects approved on March 25 at various locations within the nine Bay Area counties (District 4) include:
- Signal Equipment, Timing, & Striping Upgrades at 4 Intersections to Improve Pedestrian Safety (Alameda County)
- Pedestrian Crossing Enhancements at 4 Locations (Contra Costa County)
- Various Locations (3) for Pedestrian Upgrade (Marin County)
- East Blithdale Avenue Pedestrian Improvements (Marin County)
- North Pacifica Pedestrian Improvements Project (San Mateo County)
- Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project (San Mateo County)
- Pedestrian Crossing Improvements at 4 Locations (Solano County)
- Brooks Road South/Natalie Drive Pedestrian Crossing Improvements (Sonoma County)
- Dina El-Tawansy, Caltrans District 4’s (Bay Area) Director states, "The Bay Area is proud to provide over 40 pedestrian, bike, transit, and bridge safety improvement projects over the next few years.
"Many of these projects will include constructing new pedestrian and bicycle roadways that enhance pedestrian safety overall. It is the goal of Caltrans District 4, Bay Area, to make transportation accessible for all Californians regardless of the mode of transportation used."
According to the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, nearly 64 percent of traffic deaths in California occur on city or county roads, underscoring the significance of funding local safety improvements.
Caltrans selected a total of 266 projects statewide for funding for safety enhancements that include new traffic signals, roundabouts, turn lanes, rumble strips, and guard rails. A number of projects focus on the following safety improvements at intersections:
- Retroreflective bordered backplates: yellow strips around the permitter of traffic signals that increase visibility in bright or dark conditions, including during a loss of power.
- Timing changes to give pedestrians and bicyclists more time to cross at crosswalks before the light changes.
- Rectangular rapid-flashing beacons with a push-button signal control to increase pedestrian visibility at crosswalks.
For a complete list of projects statewide, please go to the following link: https://dot.ca.gov/programs/local-assistance/fed-and-state-programs/highway-safety-improvement- program/approved-project-lists.