Public Health and Transportation, Aligned: How Wisconsin Communities Secured $27. 5 Million for Safer Streets | Safe Routes Partnership
When public health and transportation teams work in sync, the results can be transformative. Wisconsin offers a clear proof point. In the 2024 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All…
When public health and transportation teams work in sync, the results can be transformative. Wisconsin offers a clear proof point. In the 2024 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funding cycle, five Wisconsin communities secured more than $27. 5 million to plan, design, and build safer streets. These awards are competitive, and Wisconsin’s success offers a model for other states looking to secure federal funding for walking and biking. It was made possible thanks to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services taking a targeted approach to coaching, cross-sector collaboration, and strategic support made possible through CDC funding and led by Safe Routes Partnership. At a time when communities across the country are grappling with rising traffic injuries and deaths, especially among people walking, biking, rolling, and taking transit, this effort shows what’s possible when public health is meaningfully embedded in transportation funding strategies. The Challenge: Federal Funding Is There, But Access Isn’t EqualFederal transportation programs like SS4A are powerful tools for advancing safety and health. But navigating them is no small task. Many communities, particularly smaller, rural, or under-resourced ones, face real barriers:Complex application requirementsLimited staff capacityUncertainty about local match expectationsDifficulty aligning transportation proposals with public health outcomesRecognizing both the opportunity and the challenge, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services stepped in to help communities move from interest to action. The Approach: Coaching, Not Just InformationThrough CDC’s State Physical Activity and Nutrition program, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services partnered with Safe Routes Partnership to deliver hands-on training and coaching tailored to the SS4A program. The approach was intentionally practical. Rather than offering generic webinars, the training brought together public health and transportation partners and focused on:Breaking down SS4A eligibility and application requirementsLearning from real examples of successful SS4A awardeesClarifying how public health goals like injury prevention and physical activity can strengthen transportation proposalsBuilding local teams that could carry projects from application through implementationTo deepen the impact, Safe Routes Partnership also provided one-on-one coaching sessions that gave communities space to ask detailed questions, pressure-test ideas, refine applications, and learn alongside peers working toward similar goals. “Marisa was really helpful and available for planning with our local presenting partner and made sure I was aware of who reached out for follow-up questions after the webinar. It was super helpful to have your support with setting up logistics, promoting, and follow-up data of the webinar. ”Lexi Davis, Healthy Communities Coordinator, Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesFor many participants, this was also a shift in mindset: public health professionals were no longer adjacent to transportation planning, they were essential to it. The Results: $27. 5 Million for Safer, Healthier StreetsThe payoff was substantial. Five communities that engaged in CDC-supported technical assistance secured over $27. 5 million in SS4A funding. These dollars will support comprehensive safety action plans, demonstration projects, and construction aimed at reducing traffic injuries and fatalities—especially for the most vulnerable roadway users. Here’s a snapshot of what’s coming:Milwaukeewill plan, design, and construct safety improvements along two miles of Center Street, a heavily traveled corridor. Projects include fully separated bike lanes, bus bulb-outs, curb extensions, raised intersections, leading pedestrian intervals, narrower travel lanes, and a speed limit reduction from 30 to 25 mph. Green Baywill develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan alongside a wide range of supplemental studies, including bicycle and pedestrian risk assessments, a High Injury Network analysis, speed management planning, near-miss analysis, and pilot strategies like real-time speed management devices and targeted traffic calming. Greater Madison MPOwill support multiple local jurisdictions—including Fitchburg, Shorewood Hills, Dane County, Cottage Grove, and Verona—in developing safety action plans, an Active Transportation Plan, and a Safe Routes to School Plan. La Crosse Area Planning Committeewill develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to guide long-term safety investments. Rock Countywill create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan and pilot demonstration projects such as high-friction surface treatments and wet reflective pavement markings. Together, these projects represent a statewide investment in safer, more walkable, and more connected communities. Why This Matters for Public Health and FundersThis effort underscores a simple but powerful truth:transportation funding is public health funding. By equipping communities with the tools to access federal dollars, CDC-supported technical assistance helped translate health goals into concrete infrastructure outcomes. Streets designed to reduce speeds, protect vulnerable users, and support walking and biking are streets that prevent injuries, save lives, and make physical activity part of daily life. As CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation initiative works toward helping 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027, this model offers a replicable path forward. What’s NextSafe Routes Partnership will continue seeking opportunities to provide coaching and technical assistance to help more communities across the country turn federal programs into real-world safety and health gains. To learn more about Safe Routes Partnership’s resources on the Safe Streets and Roads for All program, visit our SS4A resource page. This publication was made possible by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (Cooperative Agreement CDC-RFA-PW-24-0080). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC. These efforts are part of the CDC’s Active People, Healthy NationSM Initiative.