ELBOW - Just over 60 new projects centered on traffic and pedestrian safety will be carried out in communities across Saskatchewan.
Such projects come as a result of funding from the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund, which recently announced a total of 62 projects in 61 communities that will receive grant monies in order to carry out these initiatives.
In total, these projects equate to nearly $1.54 million in total grant funding, with contributions to each community ranging from $853 up to $100,000.
In a media release, Jeremy Harrison, Minister Responsible for SGI said the grants also include a number of First Nations among the recipients.
"The Government of Saskatchewan and SGI are committed to delivering safer roads for everyone in Saskatchewan," said Harrison. "This $1.5 million in provincial grants will enable 61 municipalities and First Nations throughout our province to deliver enhancements to traffic safety in their communities."
Locally, a number of communities in the Lake Diefenbaker regional area saw funding for their own projects, including:
The village of Elbow, receiving $30,492 for a pedestrian safety project;
The town of Dundurn, receiving $54,079 for a pathway lighting project;
The village of Kenaston, receiving $5,480 for a school student safety project; and
The RM of Loreburn No. 254, receiving $877 for a speed awareness project for Sunset Beach.
The full list of approved projects and grant amounts can be found on SGI's website.
Provincial Traffic Safety Fund grants are awarded to communities twice a year, using proceeds from photo speed enforcement. Since the program was first established in 2019, a total of $14.55 million has been awarded to 918 projects in Saskatchewan.
Projects seeking eligibility for the funding must focus on one or more of these traffic safety priorities: speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection, intersection safety, aggressive driving, vulnerable road users or medically-at-risk drivers.
Applications are reviewed by a committee made up of representatives from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Prince Albert Grand Council, the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Highways and SGI.
Applications are now being accepted for the next round of funding, with the deadline for applications being September 30.
