THANK YOU!
On 10/7, the Board of Finance unanimously approved the appropriation to accept nearly $900,000 in federal funding through the Safe Streets for All grant! Next up, the RTM will vote on 11/10 for final approval before we get to work.
First and foremost, THANK YOU.
Hundreds of you wrote to the Board of Finance, sharing personal experiences, concerns, and hopes for safer streets. Your voices helped demonstrate just how deeply Westport cares about this issue.
Please remember this as we move into the next chapter: YOUR OPINION MATTERS. Your voice makes a difference.
The grant now goes to the RTM for final approval on November 10th, the last formal step before work begins.
What the grant includes:
A Townwide Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. A long-term plan for a connected walking and biking network, with priority projects and costs. It includes a Safe Routes to School Plan and a Complete Streets Policy.
An ADA Transition Plan. A townwide review of sidewalk, curb-ramp, and crossing barriers, with a plan to fix them over time.
Up to four temporary safety demonstration projects. Short-term, low-cost improvements on Town roads at locations drawn from the Town's Safety Action Plan. They'll be measured before and after to see what works.
What it doesn't include:
New sidewalks or permanent construction. These federal funds can't be used to build them.
Permanent fixes. The demonstration projects are temporary tests. Anything permanent would need future funding.
Why it matters: These plans give Westport a clear, prioritized list of projects. That's exactly what's needed to compete for the larger grants that do pay for sidewalks and crossings.
Stay involved: Once work begins, there will be public meetings and surveys, including a Safe Routes to School family survey. We'll let you know when they're coming so you can keep shaping what happens next.
Thank you for showing up for safer streets.