In an effort to improve nighttime visibility and encourage safer driving on the city’s streets, the City of New Orleans and the Downtown Development District have received two large funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation. As part of the DOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Planning Program, these funds are designated to support the strategic planning of traffic safety enhancements. The City of New Orleans was the first to report on the statement, which outlines a collaborative effort to address traffic safety issues and work toward safer streets for all residents.
The funds, which Mayor LaToya Cantrell emphasized as demonstrating the city’s dedication to “creating safer, more sustainable streets,” are firmly rooted in the City’s Climate Action Plan. Among other things, this initiative aims to solve the serious problem of low evening visibility and the interaction between cars and pedestrians in the downtown area. A statement obtained by the City of New Orleans states that the awards are part of a coordinated effort “toward a resilient and equitable future for all New Orleanians.”
According to the City of New Orleans, Representative Troy A. Carter, Sr. went into further detail about the importance of the awards, highlighting the potential for better mobility and a decrease in traffic deaths, especially in communities that frequently suffer the most from these tragedies. He acknowledged that the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s infrastructure financing were essential in promoting these safety initiatives.
Specifically, the $360,000 allocated for New Orleans’ highway Lighting Safety Supplemental Plan would highlight the serious safety concerns associated with inadequate nighttime highway lighting, which has been linked to many traffic fatalities between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. “With the help of this $360,000 Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, we are taking a proactive step toward reducing nighttime fatal crashes by identifying where street lighting infrastructure can be improved and how much funding will be needed to implement upgrades,” said Rick Hathaway, Director of the Department of Public Works, speaking to the City of New Orleans. In order to improve evening visibility for city dwellers, the Department of Public Works is in charge of piloting novel lighting technology and managing grant implementation.
The additional $150,000 award to the Downtown Development District will be used to address the special traffic safety requirements of the Central Business District, aiming to balance the coexistence of bicycles, cars, and pedestrians. The donation to the City of New Orleans was welcomed with enthusiasm by Davon Barbour, President & CEO of the Downtown Development District, who envisioned the planned renovations as helping “the tens of thousands of citizens who travel our streets daily.”
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