The City of Redmond recently received funding to use for pedestrian safety from the Highway Safety Improvement Program, a federal aid program administered through the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).

Last week, WSDOT announced the award of $15 million in Federal grants to be used by cities and counties across the state to significantly reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries on public roads.

“Safety funds will be spent where they will have the highest payoff towards saving lives and reducing serious injuries,” said WSDOT Secretary Paula Hammond.

Eastside cities of Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland received more than $500,000 for pedestrian improvements. The City of Redmond received $170,000 to upgrade crossings to “piano-style” crosswalks at approximately 20 signalized intersections downtown. This includes the SR 202 corridor from Northeast 87th Street to Cleveland Street.

Piano-style crosswalks have markings parallel to the path of vehicular travel. Studies have demonstrated they can be more visible to drivers and are more durable over time. This increases pedestrian safety and reduces maintenance costs. The work to upgrade the crossings is scheduled for summer 2010.

The Highway Safety Improvement Program was established when the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was signed into law in 2005. This core federal-aid program supports projects to achieve a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads through the implementation of infrastructure-related safety improvements.

In addition to Highway Safety Improvement Program funds, the City of Redmond also received a $200,000 Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) grant that will build a sidewalk along the south side of Northeast 90th Street between Willows Road and 154th Avenue Northeast. This new sidewalk will be constructed this summer as part of the city’s Annual Sidewalk Improvement Program.

The TIB distributes grant funds, which come from revenue generated by three cents of the statewide gas tax, to support transportation projects in cities and counties across Washington State.

For more information on sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements, or about these federally-supported projects in Redmond, contact the city’s Transportation Services Division at (425) 556-2854.