department of transportation announces indian country transportation grants

Just over 90 individual transportation projects on Tribal Lands are slated to receive nearly $9 million in federal grant funding.

Elaine Chao, the Secretary of the Transportation Department, said the funding will be specifically used to “improve traffic safety and improve the quality of life for tribal communities.”

Five separate projects in Arizona are receiving a total of just over $1 million, with the Gila River Indian Community getting $499,000 for the building of new pedestrian facilities along Baseline Road and 83rd Avenue, while the White Mountain Apache Tribe is in line for $400,000 for a pedestrian safety project running along Arizona State Route 73.

Three projects in New Mexico are slated to receive a combined more than $70,000 in funding, with the largest, at $45,400, targeting a traffic-calming initiative for the Pueblo of Jemez along New Mexico State Road 4.

In a statement, Nicole Nason, Federal Highway Administrator, remarked: “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.”
​
The funding is coming specifically from the Tribal Transportation Program Safety Fund under the auspices of both the Department of Transportation, as well as the Federal Highway Administration. 

​By Garry Boulard

---