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Counties and municipalities can apply for federal traffic safety implementation funding
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently opened applications for the fiscal year 2025 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) traffic safety grants program. This program funds projects that advance traffic safety and save lives through building safer roads, improving pedestrian and bike safety, helping people access transit safely, and more.
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) was awarded a $4 million SS4A grant in 2023 to help create safety action plans for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties as part of our Safe Travel for All program. With county safety action plans nearly complete, those counties and municipalities within them will be eligible to apply for federal implementation and demonstration grants.
If your community is considering applying, we encourage you to connect with the project managers for your county safety action plan; contact information is available on each county page through the Safe Travel for All website.
The deadline to apply is June 26, 2025 and the deadline for optional pre-application review is May 9, 2025.
USDOT is hosting webinars this week and next week:
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Workshops on IDOT funding opportunities coming to northeastern Illinois this summer
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will be hosting workshops throughout the state to help local governments and communities learn about and apply for funding opportunities. The Special Programs Assistance Conferences in northeastern Illinois will take place in June and will cover:
- Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program
- Safe Routes to School
- Economic Development Program
Mark your calendar for these sessions in the region:
- June 5 and 6: IDOT District 1 Office, 201 West Center Court, Schaumburg, IL 60196
- June 10 and 11: Hillside Village Hall, 425 Hillside Ave, Hillside, IL 60162
- June 12 and 13: McHenry County Administration Building, 667 Ware Road, Woodstock, IL
- June 23 and 24: Matteson Village Hall, 20642 Matteson Avenue, Matteson, IL 60443
Considering applying for a Safe Routes to School grant? In addition to the IDOT workshops above, the Active Transportation Alliance and Illinois Public Health Institute are hosting a webinar on how to launch or strengthen a Safe Routes to School program in your community and prepare for the upcoming funding cycle.
- When: Tuesday, April 29, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Who should attend: School staff, municipal staff, parents, and community members who want to make walking and biking to school safe and appealing!
- Register for the webinar
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Planned rail infrastructure improvements will make it safer to cross the tracks
The Illinois Commerce Commission approved its annual five-year Crossing Safety Improvement Program to implement life-saving safety upgrades at highway-rail crossings across Illinois. Over $400 million from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund and Rebuild Illinois will help local communities pay for much-needed improvements at over 900 crossing locations.
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Traffic safety awareness in April
Join CMAP and our regional partners in promoting traffic safety this month:
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April is Distracted Driving Awareness month. According to IDOT, distracted driving was involved in nearly 5% of all traffic deaths in 2023, and over 29,000 people were injured in crashes involving distraction between 2019 and 2023. That's why IDOT and the Illinois State Police are joining the national "Don't Drive Distracted. Eyes Forward" campaign — learn more and participate.
- The National Safety Council is helping communities spread the word about the risks of distracted driving. Check out their Distracted Driving Awareness Month toolkit.
- Springtime means construction season is around the corner! National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 21 – 25. This annual campaign encourages safe driving through highway work zones.
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Teen Innovation Summit will convene youth to help find roadway safety solutions
The Teen Innovation Summit, sponsored by AAA, is coming to Chicago on April 25 and the College of Lake County on April 26 for hackathons on roadway safety. In these 45-60 minute sessions, teens will work with expert mentors and brainstorm solutions to reduce injuries and fatalities on our roads. Please share this opportunity with high school students interested in shaping the future of transportation and safety.
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Complete Streets improvements in Chicago are helping streets work better for everyone
Complete Streets is a transportation approach in which streets are planned, designed, operated, and maintained for safe, convenient, and comfortable travel for all road users, regardless of age, ability, or mode of travel.
The Chicago Department of Transportation is celebrating its Complete Streets achievements! In 2024, the city upgraded hundreds of intersections and miles of road, including over 31 miles of low-stress bikeways, and 65 boarding islands that keep people safer when getting on and off the bus.
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Building a safer Ashburn: Shaping a community-led traffic safety plan
CMAP is partnering with the Greater Ashburn Development Association to create a safety action plan for the community area on Chicago's Southwest Side. The plan aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from traffic crashes through data-informed and community-led recommendations.
So far, the project team has gathered community input through a steering committee, interviews with local leaders, in-person events, and surveys on existing conditions and the community's vision.
A new survey is live, and residents can continue to add points on the safety hotspots map. Residents are also invited to provide input on the project at the Easter Egg Hunt on April 19 at Scottsdale Park in Ashburn.
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New report uncovers road safety findings using AI
Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign published a new report that used artificial intelligence (AI) to examine Google Street Views from over 1.15 million car crashes. AI found a strong link between crash severity and visible road surface. Roadway changes, such as narrower lanes or added curves, would reduce visible road surface and may help create safer streets. CMAP Senior Planner Victoria Barrett served on the technical review panel for the report.
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