Indian Country Receives $8.9m for Improving Traffic Safety

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao announced over $8.9 million for 91 projects to 80 Federally recognized American Indian Tribal Nations during her remarks at the National Congress of American Indians on Tuesday.

“These Federal funds will go to American Indian Tribes to improve traffic safety and improve the quality of life for tribal communities,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao.

Nearly 60 Tribes will receive funding to assist in the development or update of a transportation safety plan. A library of such plans is online at https://www.tribalsafety.org/safety-plans-library.

"From safety planning to sidewalks and road repairs, these funds will play an important role in enhancing the safety and accessibility of transportation infrastructure on Tribal roads," said Federal Highway Administrator Nicole R. Nason.

The $8.9 million will come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration’s Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund (TTPSF).

Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa received $7,500 to update the Tribal Transportation Safety Plan. The Tribal Grants, Realty and Roads Departments have worked together to secure funds to update the plan so the Tribe would be in a better position for future Transportation grants. Two other grants were submitted for an extension of the pedestrian trail and a safety audit but were not funded at this time.