BOZEMAN — The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University a $4.7 million grant to advance safer roads and streets in rural and tribal areas in Montana.

“Rural and tribal safety in relation to transportation is a critical issue in improving quality of life in Montana,” said Kelvin Wang, WTI director. “WTI is at the forefront of improving rural transportation with new technological solutions and innovations.”

WTI will use the funds to improve traffic and transportation safety along corridors that serve rural counties, communities and reservations by creating two county safety action plans, updating regional safety action plans and demonstration projects, and other supplemental planning activities. This will include planning safe routes to schools, provide traffic calming, and messaging and education.

“Preventing deaths and serious injuries on our roadways is vital,” said Chris Dorrington, director of theMontana Department of Transportation, which will be involved in the project. “This award shows WTI’s work is valued and important for Montana and the nation.”

WTI has been designated by the USDOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration as one of the top 10 national University Transportation Centers.

“We look forward to working with many partners and stakeholders to improve the safety of all road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians, in rural Montana, including the many Native American communities we will be working in,” said David Kack, WTI mobility program manager. “Through our efforts we will plan and demonstrate solutions that can be implemented on a long-term basis to help reduce fatalities and serious injuries on some of Montana’s most dangerous roads.”

WTI is housed in MSU’s Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering.

“WTI has been making Montana roads safer for 30 years,” said Alison Harmon, vice president of MSU’s Office of Research and Development. “This award further affirms the trust the USDOT and MDT put in WTI and MSU.”