New PHASE Act Funds $5M Annually for Safer Crosswalks and Sidewalks in Cities and Tribes

The newly introduced Pedestrian Hazard, Awareness, and Safety Expansion Act of 2025 (PHASE Act) is setting its sights on making our streets safer for everyone not driving a car. This bill is less about new rules for drivers and more about infrastructure upgrades and smart technology research. Specifically, the bill authorizes $5 million every year for a new grant program aimed at funding real, physical safety improvements in cities and Tribal lands, focusing on areas where pedestrian deaths have been a major problem (SEC. 3).

The Future of Traffic Signals: Smart, Safe, and Not Distracting

First up, the bill taps the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to become the traffic tech scout. NIST is tasked with researching and suggesting new, innovative technologies that could improve traffic signals and signs (SEC. 2). Think smarter crosswalks or signs that actually help, not confuse. The catch? Before NIST can suggest any new tech to the Department of Transportation, they have to prove that these solutions won't end up distracting or overwhelming drivers, bikers, or pedestrians. This is a crucial detail; nobody wants a high-tech traffic light that causes more accidents than it prevents. While this focus on non-distraction is smart, defining what counts as "overwhelming" or "distracting" is subjective and could slow down the adoption of genuinely helpful innovations.

Putting Federal Dollars Where the Danger Is

The most tangible part of the PHASE Act for local communities is the new grant program. The Department of Transportation is authorized to hand out up to $5 million annually to cities and Indian Tribes specifically for building safer infrastructure (SEC. 3). If you’ve ever dodged traffic crossing a busy street or pushed a stroller down a crumbling sidewalk, this section is for you. The money is earmarked for things like accessible curb ramps, improved lighting, grade-separated crossings (like pedestrian bridges), better sidewalks, and new crosswalk technology—all while making sure everything complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For a city planner, this is a direct line to federal funding to fix notorious danger spots. For a resident, it means potentially seeing that dangerous intersection finally get a protected crosswalk or better lighting. This grant program is specifically targeted at areas where pedestrian fatality rates have been climbing, ensuring the limited funds go where the need is greatest. The bill also requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on physical safety improvements, including how Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) and blind spot detection systems impact safety for walkers and cyclists, specifically checking if those detection systems are fast enough to matter (SEC. 3).

What This Means for Your Commute

Ultimately, the PHASE Act is designed to make walking, biking, and using mobility devices less of a gamble. While the $5 million annual authorization is relatively small in the world of federal infrastructure spending, it’s highly targeted. This means that if you live in a city or area with a high rate of pedestrian crashes, your local government now has a specific pot of money they can apply for to build the physical buffers and smart crossings that can save lives. It’s a clear signal that federal policy is catching up to the reality that our infrastructure needs to serve more than just cars, focusing on real-world solutions for vulnerable road users.