Senator Hassan Joins Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Traffic Congestion, Improve Road Safety

Press Release

U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) in introducing the Smart Intersections Act, bipartisan legislation which will reduce traffic congestion and improve roadway efficiency by establishing a grant program at the Department of Transportation with the purpose of improving the functioning of traffic signals throughout the country.

"I am glad to work across the aisle on this commonsense bill that can provide direct support to New Hampshire cities and towns for updates to their traffic signals. Improvements to traffic signals can help to address traffic congestion and support road safety, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this bill," said Senator Hassan.

"Traffic congestion has increasingly become a problem which needs addressing in Utah's cities and in many metropolitan areas around our country," said Senator Romney. "Our bill proposes a multifaceted solution to reducing traffic congestion and improving the safety and effectiveness of our roads, while also reducing fuel costs and air pollution. As we continue to have discussions on improving our country's infrastructure, I will work to ensure that our legislation be included in any deal that is agreed upon."

The Smart Intersections Act establishes a Smart Technology Traffic Signals Grant Program at the Department of Transportation to make grants to state, local, or tribal governments to improve the functioning of traffic signals.

These grants could be used to:

Improve the active management of traffic signals;
Implement strategies, activities, and projects that support active management of traffic signal operations;
Replace outdated traffic signals;
Pay the costs of temporary staffing hours dedicated to updating traffic signal technology for local governments with a population less than 500,000.

Other provisions:

None of the funds could be used for a traffic enforcement system;
Directs the Government Accountability Office to study the potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by improving the efficiency of our traffic systems.

The Smart Intersections Act is endorsed by the National Association of Counties (NACo), the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), the American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATTSA), the National League of Cities, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Wasatch Front Regional Council, and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA).

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