Palm Desert To Bolster Street Safety Near Schools With $5.68M Grant

PALM DESERT, CA — Thanks to a $5.68 million federal grant, Palm Desert will begin working on street safety improvements near schools and along high-risk corridors in 2026.

The move is part of a national effort to reduce serious traffic injuries and deaths across America. Palm Desert was one of 67 communities selected to get a grant in this funding cycle, the city announced Wednesday.

“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. “It allows us to move from planning to real, on-the-ground improvements that make streets safer for students, families and older adults.”

The $5,684,932 is meant to go toward both the design and construction of safety project that have been outlined through the city's existing transportation and safety plans.

Officials say they plan to improve the streets and corridors around the following schools:

• Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
• Palm Desert Charter Middle School
• George Washington Charter School
• James Earl Carter Elementary School
• Palm Desert High School

Proposed projects include enhanced crosswalks, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant curb ramps, pedestrian-scale lighting, sidewalk upgrades and speed management measures.

Many other projects will be along Palm Desert’s "high-injury network,"where authorities have identified the highest concentration of severe traffic collisions.

Project design and outreach to the public is expected to start in 2026. For more information, visit this link.