Crown Point, Merrillville, Portage, Valparaiso land federal roadway safety grants

Four Northwest Indiana municipalities are set to receive grants under the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant program.

SS4A was created by the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which gave the program $5 billion in appropriated funds over 5 years. The program funds regional and local roadway projects aimed at improving roadway safety, and has so far distributed $2.7 billion towards projects in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico.

The program's most recent group of grantees were announced earlier this month. Crown Point, Merrillville and Portage will each receive $280,000 and Valparaiso will receive $200,000. The money will help the communities develop or update a comprehensive safety action plan aimed at reducing dangerous crashes along roadways.

In a statement released Thursday by the office of U.S. Congressman Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, Portage Mayor Austin Bonta called the grant "an incredible opportunity for us to tackle the dangers posed by vehicular traffic."

"The City of Portage is thrilled to have been given access to this powerful tool to enhance the safety of walkers, cyclists and drivers making their way around our growing city," Bonta said.

According to a report by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, the Hoosier State had 894 traffic fatalities in fiscal year 2023, down just over 9.2% from 985 in fiscal year 2022. Pedestrian fatalities dipped from 111 to 98, while cyclist deaths increased from 19 to 27.

The DOT expects to make additional SS4A grant announcements in November, according to its website, marking the third and final such announcement in 2024.