Wednesday, February 1, 2023, Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) celebrated the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) significant infrastructure investment into the Gary community. The Biden Administration announced also on Wednesday that Gary was awarded $140,000.00 through USDOT’s Safe Streets and Roads from All (SS4A) Grant Program. This program is designed to make infrastructure improvements to prevent deaths and serious injuries from occurring on roadways.
“Today is a great day for Gary,” Smith said. “This infusion of infrastructure funding will set us on a path towards making needed improvements in our city. With this funding, we will have the resources to pursue initiatives and plans that will improve the safety of our residents for years to come.
“A few weeks ago, our community lost yet another life after a 64-year-old man attempted to cross the street where he was hit by a moving vehicle. This is a bleak reality about the state of our current infrastructure in Northwest Indiana, and a painful reminder that something must be done. These funds must be used to develop sound policies and practices that ensure this tragedy does not happen again in our city.
“I want to thank all the staff and officials from the City of Gary who worked tirelessly for our community to obtain this grant. I look forward to seeing how we will study and update our city’s comprehensive safety action plan with this funding.”
