Murfreesboro awarded $8M federal grant for roadway safety improvements

What This Story Is About

• The city of Murfreesboro announced Wednesday that it received more than $8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation through its “Safe Streets and Roads for All’ grant program.

Why It Matters

• The funds will go toward six projects in Murfreesboro’s “Safety Action Plan,” the city said.

What Happens Next

• The city said it will be working with the Federal Highway Administration to negotiate and execute a grant agreement before the federal funds can be received.

For Context

• The city said it will be contributing $2 million to the project, bringing the total to $10,353,685 for roadway safety improvements across Murfreesboro.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV) - The city of Murfreesboro announced Wednesday that it was awarded more than $8 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation through its “Safe Streets and Roads for All” grant program.

The city said it will be contributing $2 million to the project, bringing the total to $10,353,685 for roadway safety improvements across Murfreesboro.

“This significant federal investment reinforces our commitment to making Murfreesboro’s streets safer for everyone, whether they drive, walk, bike, or use mobility devices,” said Mayor Shane McFarland. “Every one of these improvements is focused on preventing tragedies before they happen.”

The funds will go toward six projects in Murfreesboro’s “Safety Action Plan,” the city said. The projects, which are focused focused in the corridors that the city called its “high-injury roadway network,” include:

• Traffic signal safety upgrades at key intersections
• Traffic calming improvements along 2.8 miles of Saint Andrews Drive
• Installation of a pedestrian hybrid beacon on Veterans Parkway near Barfield Crescent Park
• A citywide roadway safety public outreach campaign
• Development of a Pavement Management Plan that incorporates roadway safety considerations
• Conducting a near-miss demonstration project at signalized intersections near Middle Tennessee State University to identify and address safety risks before serious crashes occur
• Enhanced post-crash care capabilities, including blood supply improvements for the Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department 

“The award includes $8,216,591 in implementation funding and $66,356 for supplemental planning and demonstration activities,” the city said.

In the city’s grant application, it said Murfreesboro saw 26,023 crashes between 2020 and 2024. Those included 38 fatal crashes and 331 serious injury crashes.

“Eighty signalized intersections on selected high-injury corridors accounted for 5,582 crashes during that period, including nine fatal crashes and 65 serious-injury crashes,” the city said.

The city said the grant also funds a near-miss demonstration at four signalized intersections near Middle Tennessee State University.

“Through this partnership with USDOT, we’ll be able to modernize critical intersections, improve pedestrian safety, calm traffic in targeted areas, and strengthen post-crash response capabilities,” added McFarland. “Most importantly, this funding helps us protect lives and create a transportation system that serves our growing community safely and effectively.”

The city said it will be working with the Federal Highway Administration to negotiate and execute a grant agreement before the federal funds can be received.