New Round of Federal Funds to Help Central Florida Eliminate Traffic Deaths

Posted on: November 15, 2024 in Safety

MetroPlan Orlando received $2.12 million grant to continue its Vision Zero work; government partners also got funding for projects

Efforts to save lives on Central Florida’s roads got a boost with a new round of federal funding that awards money to MetroPlan Orlando and its partners. The new funding will bolster the Vision Zero Central Florida safety initiative, already underway in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.

MetroPlan Orlando was awarded a $2.12 million grant, under the 2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The money will be used for supplemental safety planning.

In addition, Orange County and the Sanford Airport Authority received grants of $853,723 and $120,000, respectively. The University of Central Florida received $1.6 million for work on pilot projects in Lake and Sumter counties. Announced earlier this year, the City of Casselberry also received a $1.2 million demonstration project grant.

“We are delighted to receive this additional safety planning grant and pleased that our partners have received money for projects of their own,” said Gary Huttmann, MetroPlan Orlando Executive Director. “Our initial Vision Zero Safety Action Plan work brought everyone in the three counties together to address traffic safety. Now, we will see continuing benefits for our region, as we all work to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries.”

Continuing Regional Safety Work

In February of 2023, MetroPlan Orlando, along with its government partners, received a $3.79 million Safe Streets and Roads for All grant and worked collaboratively with the three counties and 22 municipalities in Central Florida to create a comprehensive Vision Zero Safety Action Plan, along with individual action plans tailored for each local jurisdiction.

Vision Zero is an international effort with a goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. It uses a data-driven approach to emphasize safe systems and prevent crashes by anticipating human mistakes and minimizing impacts on the human body when crashes do occur.

MetroPlan Orlando was joined by partners in the most recent application for funds. The new influx of federal money will be used for a variety of supplemental planning activities. These include:

• Updating the regional safety action plan
• Continuing safety and Vision Zero-focused public participation
• Updating data and enhancing the regional Vision Zero hub site
• Conducting road safety audits

MetroPlan Orlando’s three-county area is home to more than 2 million people, with almost a million new residents expected to arrive during the next 25 years.

Between 2017 and 2021, more than 1,300 people died in traffic crashes in the region, which amounts to an average annual fatality rate of 11.7 deaths per 100,000 people. Those who are killed on our roadways are more likely to be pedestrians and bicyclists.

For more information about Vision Zero Central Florida and the regional safety action plan, see the Safety section of our website.

About the Grant Process

MetroPlan Orlando will be working during the spring on a grant agreement with the federal government through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which must be executed before work can begin on the project.

The $5 billion, five-year Safe Streets and Roads for All Action Plan Grant program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is administered by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. This is the third and final round of awards to be announced this year.

Learn more about the grant program and the current group of nationwide recipients here.