Palm Desert Lands $5.68M Federal Grant for Street Safety Near Schools

Palm Desert is getting nearly $5.7 million in federal funding to make streets safer around schools and along corridors with high crash rates.

The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program, which supports cities working to reduce serious traffic injuries and deaths. Palm Desert was one of 67 communities selected nationwide for this round of funding.

"This is one of the largest federal safety grants the city has received and a major investment in protecting people where they are most vulnerable," said Mayor Evan Trubee.

The money will cover both design and construction for safety projects near Abraham Lincoln Elementary, Palm Desert Charter Middle School, George Washington Charter School, James Earl Carter Elementary and Palm Desert High School. Many improvements will also target the city's high-injury network—streets where the most severe collisions have occurred.

Planned upgrades include enhanced crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps, pedestrian-scale lighting, sidewalk repairs and speed management measures.

Design work and community outreach are set to begin this year, with construction rolling out in phases starting in 2027. The grant also funds continued public education through the city's Very Important Pedestrian campaign, which focuses on safe driving and pedestrian awareness.

The project is part of Palm Desert's Vision Zero Strategy.