Tester Secures $3.5 Million for Billings Street Safety Improvements

Funding comes from federal grant program set up by Senator’s bipartisan infrastructure law

U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured $3.56 million for street safety improvements in Billings, Montana. The funding comes from the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant program, which Tester established through his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Tester worked with five Republicans and four Democrats to negotiate the IIJA and was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for the bill.

“Montanans count on safe streets for everything from getting to and from their workplace to dropping their kids off safely at school,” said Tester. “These targeted dollars will help Billings plan for the future and make sure Montana students can get to and from Billings schools safely. I’m proud to have worked with both Republicans and Democrats to deliver this funding through my bipartisan infrastructure law, and I’m looking forward to seeing these critical upgrades being made across the Treasure State.”

“I’m thrilled to hear that Billings will receive these critical dollars to make our community safer, especially for our children,” said Billings Mayor Bill Cole. “These funds will improve roads and sidewalks that our residents need every day. I appreciate Senator Tester working across the aisle so we can accelerate key projects and make Billings safer sooner.”

This funding for the City of Billings through Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law will implement safety countermeasures at 11 intersections and 6 corridors in support of a Safe Routes to School initiative. The project will implement intersection safety improvements including high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian-scale lighting, and enhanced signing; pedestrian, bicyclist, and ADA facilities, including sidewalks and shared-use paths, bicycle facilities, and ADA-compliant ramps; and traffic-calming treatments, including curb extensions and signal upgrades. The Safe Routes to Schools projects will make active transportation to and from Billings schools safer.

Tester secured significant wins for Montana in the legislation, including $2.82 billion for Montana’s roads, highways and bridges; $2.5 billion to complete all authorized Indian water rights settlements; $1 billion to complete all authorized rural water projects through the Bureau of Reclamation; $65 billion to deploy broadband to areas across the country that lack internet access and additionally make online connectivity affordable; and $3.37 billion to reduce wildfire risk nationwide, among others. Tester also worked to ensure that all iron, steel, and construction materials used for these projects must be made in America.

A full list of Montana provisions in Tester’s bipartisan infrastructure law can be found HERE.