WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, announced Tuesday that Maui County, Hawaii County and the city and county of Honolulu will receive more than $18 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation for projects to improve safety on roads and sidewalks. The funding comes from DOT’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which Schatz helped create as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that passed in 2021. This builds on previous Schatz-led efforts to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Our roads should be safe for everyone to get around, including pedestrians and cyclists,” said Schatz, chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. “This funding from the historic infrastructure law will improve road and sidewalks and keep our communities safe.”

“We are thrilled to secure substantial funds aimed at enhancing the safety and accessibility of our streets for all our residents,” Hawai’i County Mayor Mitch Roth said. “Thanks to Sen. Brian Schatz’s advocacy, we have the opportunity to implement cutting-edge technology in a pilot program on Hilo’s streets. Our gratitude extends to our dedicated team for their tireless commitment to Complete Streets and Hawaii County’s Vision Zero Action Plan.”

“Besides prioritizing safety, this grant comes at a critical time to support rebuilding our Lahaina community. We thank USDOT, Sen. Schatz, and the congressional delegation for its continued support of our county,” said Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen.

The grants to Hawai’i include:

• $13.4 million to the county of Maui for safety improvements on Keawe Street in West Maui. The project includes crosswalks improvements, pedestrian refuge islands, roundabouts and a buffered bicycle lane to separate vehicular traffic from pedestrians and cyclists. The improvements will enhance road safety for all users and support other development efforts in the surrounding area.

“This federal grant will help the city further strengthen our commitment to road safety with our Vision Zero and Complete Streets initiatives, and we are especially grateful to Sen. Schatz and the members of our congressional delegation for their support,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “With this award, the city’s Department of Transportation Services will advance transformative improvements on some of our busiest roadways across the urban core to help reduce pedestrian-involved crashes and achieve safer streets for all.”