Tester Secures $680,000 to Improve Roadway Safety in the Flathead

Safe Streets for All Grants to Kalispell, Whitefish for developing comprehensive safety plans

As a direct result of his bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured two Safe Streets For All grants totaling $680,000 for Kalispell and Whitefish to develop comprehensive safety action plans that will ultimately prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries in the Flathead.

Tester negotiated the IIJA and helped pass it into law last year, and he was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to support it.

“Safe roads are foundational to every Montana community, and I’m proud to secure this funding so that folks in the Flathead can get to school and work without worrying,” said Tester. “Through my bipartisan infrastructure law we’re repairing outdated roads and bridges, keeping the state connected with high speed internet, and making communities safer. These investments are a great start, and I know folks in the Flathead will put these resources to good use keeping people safe.”

Funding will be delivered to the cities of Kalispell and Whitefish through the Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All program, which was created as a part of Senator Tester’s IIJA. Funding will be used by the cities to develop comprehensive safety action plans to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Kalispell will receive a $520,000 grant and Whitefish will receive a $160,000 grant. 

Last month Tester secured $25 million for the City of Kalispell to upgrade and expand transportation infrastructure in order to support economic growth and increase public safety through IIJA’s Rural Surface Transportation grant program. Funding will be used to widen the West Reserve Road from three to five lanes, widen Stillwater Bridge to be consistent with the roadway, and tackle other various projects in the region.

Tester worked across the aisle for months to negotiate the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act with a group of five Republicans, four Democrats, and the White House. Tester’s law is projected to create more than 800,000 American jobs and lower costs for businesses by making targeted investments that will strengthen our nation without raising taxes on working families.

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.