Florida Construction News staff writer
The City of Gainesville has received an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to improve roadway safety. The funding will support safety assessments along city streets, focusing on high-risk locations for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.
City staff will evaluate stretches of road within city limits where poor lighting and high travel speeds contribute to crashes, particularly in areas that pose risks to non-motorized road users. Special attention will be given to streets with speed limits of 45 mph or higher, where the likelihood of severe or fatal accidents increases.
Data from Gainesville’s Vision Zero Action Plan—which tracks crash severity, speed, and other factors—was used to support the city’s application for the federal grant.
“For some of our neighbors, walking and cycling are the primary modes of transportation; for others, they’re a choice. But safety is a shared responsibility for all,” said Cynthia W. Curry, city manager of Gainesville.
The grant is part of a broader initiative to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries. Combined with additional SS4A grants awarded to the University of Florida ($791,000) and Alachua County ($880,000), nearly $3 million in funding will be directed toward roadway safety in the region. The city, county, and university will collaborate on road safety audits and assessments for several high-risk roads, including SW 34th Street, SW 35th Place, SW 20th Avenue, and N. 16th Avenue.
“Adding in local matches, that’s nearly $3 million to advance roadway safety in our community,” said Debbie Leistner, transportation planning manager for Gainesville. “We are all working together toward the common goal of ending traffic deaths and severe injuries.”
