Abigail Spanberger

02/01/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/01/2023 09:21

Spanberger Announces $96,000 from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Improve Highway Safety, Reduce Congestion in Spotsylvania, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Caroline, & King George

The Congresswoman Directly Advocated to the U.S. Department of Transportation for This Award to Be Delivered to the George Washington Regional Commission

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today announced $96,000 for the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, and Stafford to improve traffic safety and save lives.

The award - made possible through the bipartisan infrastructure law which Spanberger helped negotiate and pass in 2021 - will help the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) develop a safety plan to identify and respond to traffic concerns in the region. Specifically, GWRC intends to use the funds to hire a consultant and staff to develop a Safety Action Plan identifying and outlining potential projects for preventing future accidents, injuries, and road deaths.

Last year, Spanberger wrote directly to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg in support of the initiative.

"As Virginia's economy grows, so do the potential hazards on our highways and roads. This funding will help prevent accidents, reduce congestion caused by these accidents, and help save lives," said Spanberger. "The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act promised to make smart investments in the future of our physical infrastructure. This award follows through on this commitment. I was proud to work with both Democrats and Republicans to get the bipartisan infrastructure law across the finish line - and I'm even prouder to see the law deliver results for the Virginians I serve."

"The Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) and the George Washington Regional Commission (GWRC) believe that road safety is extremely important to our region," said Ian Ollis, FAMPO Administrator. "We are excited to receive this grant to be able to design the crucial safety improvements needed for our roads, bike paths and sidewalks to be able to reduce injuries and road accident deaths on our public roads and pathways. We are grateful for the support received from our elected officials and our local jurisdictions in pursuit of this grant award and look forward to planning for a safer future!"

This grant is made possible through the Safe Streets For All (SS4A) initiative at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Click here for more information about SS4A.

###