RIVER FALLS – The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the City of River Falls $200,000 in federal funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Discretionary Grant Program.

The SS4A Discretionary Grant Program, which was established with the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021, provides funding to state and local governments for the development and implementation of programs to improve the safety of the nation’s roadways and reduce traffic fatalities.

The city was awarded a Planning and Demonstration Grant, which provides federal funds for the development of a comprehensive safety action plan. The action plan will identify strategies and projects that can be implemented across the city to advance the goal of reducing accidents, injuries, and fatalities in River Falls.

“Safe streets are integral to ensuring that the River Falls community can thrive, and we are deeply appreciative of our federal partners for selecting the city as a grant recipient,” Mayor Dan Toland said. “Identifying practical, evidence-based solutions takes careful and thorough research, and this funding gives us the green light to begin that process.”

“I voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to keep Wisconsin families safe while traveling, create good paying jobs, and put Wisconsinites to work rebuilding our infrastructure,” Sen. Tammy Baldwin said. “This funding will help River Falls develop a strategy to reduce the amount of roadway incidents and make our streets safer for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers.”

The award follows the City Council’s adoption of a resolution expressing support for identifying and implementing evidence-based practices to promote roadway safety in April 2023. Completion of the grant-funded action plan will enable the city to pursue additional funding opportunities to assist with plan implementation.

Submitted by City of River Falls