The state government has opened a new round of grants for councils to make roads safer for bike riders and pedestrians.
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) managed program will fund projects that aim to reduce death and serious injury for those using active transport to get around
Your local council could get up to $30 000 for analysis and up to $100 000 for infrastructure projects—with conditional 1:1 contribution from the recipient.
Applications have just opened for the 2022 Transport Accident Commission Local Government Grant Program, now in its ninth year.
Your council should know about the opportunity but if you know of a project fitting the criteria you could remind them.
More information on the TAC Local Government Grant Program can be found here.
The TAC says the program is designed to engage Victorian communities in the Victorian Road Safety Strategy, by supporting councils to address road safety issues affecting vulnerable road users in their local areas.
"Local governments, working closely with their communities, are well-placed to identify specific problems, and develop and implement integrated road safety solutions,” the TAC says.
"While the primary focus of the TAC LGA Grant Program is pedestrians and cyclists, applicants are encouraged to consider projects that will also address the safety of other road users."
Examples of past submissions include wombat crossings on local streets, in-depth walking and cycling audits around schools, and off-road cycling facilities.
Applications close on Wednesday, 27 July, with grant recipients being notified by November 2022.
The Minister for Roads and Road Safety Ben Carroll said: “No Victorian should experience the devastating impacts of road trauma – these grants will help us create safer road environments across the state and embed a culture of road safety within the Victorian community.”
“Walking and cycling are great ways to stay healthy and move around and these grants will not only improve the safety of vulnerable road users but continue to foster liveable cities that encourage active transport.”
TAC CEO Joe Calafiore said: “We cannot accept road trauma as inevitable – no one should be killed or seriously injured on our roads and the TAC LGA Grant Program is about supporting local councils in protecting the people who use the roads in their areas.”
“We all use the roads differently, and it is important that unprotected and vulnerable road users are supported by the road system, not impacted by it.”
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