Wilmington PD To Receive Nearly $35K In Federal Funds For Road Safety

BOSTON, MA —The Wilmington Police Department learned Wednesday that it will receive $34,982 in federal grant funding for a municipal road safety program.

The WPD is one of 186 municipal and state agencies that will benefit from $10.9 million from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which was distributed by the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Gov. Karyn Polito.

The recipients completed a competitive grant process by submitting plans for improved traffic safety training, equipment and enforcement, the administration said.

The administration said the efforts align with Massachusetts' annual Highway Safety Plan, which describes the state's safety trends and guides improvements for the year ahead.

"From the time we took office, our administration has prioritized the safety of all residents and visitors who share the use of the Commonwealth’s roads," Baker said Wednesday. "Through investments like the ones we are announcing today, we are continuing to work with local partners to strengthen safety for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and communities."

Since taking office in 2015, the Baker-Polito administration said it has distributed approximately $70 million in highway safety grants.

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Office of Grants and Research (OGR) is the state administering agency for federal funding. The OGR distributes funds from agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and NHTSA.

"The Office of Grants and Research is committed to working closely with our partners across the state to ensure safety on our roads and in our communities," said Kevin Stanton, executive director of the OGR. "This funding will support data-driven efforts to address threats to roadway safety in communities across the Commonwealth."