Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a second round of funding totaling $43.2 million to help local governments improve roadway safety across New York State by reducing lane-departure crashes and minimizing the severity of accidents. The funding is part of the New York State Department of Transportation’s “Safe System” initiative aimed at achieving zero highway deaths.
The grants will fund a variety of roadway safety improvements, including new guide rails, enhanced pavement markings, updated warning signs, rumble strips, and other safety features designed to prevent vehicles from unintentionally leaving their lanes. According to the state, 44 percent of fatal crashes in New York occur when a vehicle departs from its lane.
“As part of our commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe, we are making unprecedented investments in roadway improvements that save lives,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding provides local communities with the resources they need to make their roads safer for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.”
The funding builds on the state’s Roadway Departure Safety Action Plan, released in 2024, which outlines engineering improvements, public education efforts, and coordinated law enforcement initiatives to reduce roadway departure crashes. The latest awards also complement a $32 million funding round announced in December, along with an additional $90 million designated for safety improvements on state highways. Since last year, New York has invested more than $75 million in roadway safety projects.
Among the projects receiving funding is one in Rockland County, where the Village of Chestnut Ridge will receive $568,000 to widen shoulders and remove fixed roadside hazards along South Pascack Road, helping improve safety for motorists traveling through the area.
