Modesto police awarded $520K to improve road, bike, pedestrian safety
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- Modesto Police received $521,400 in state grants to expand traffic safety.
- Grants fund DUI checkpoints, distracted-driving patrols, speed and red-light enforcement.
- Smaller grant finances audits, school training, helmet fittings and Open Streets events.
The Modesto Police Department has been awarded two state traffic safety grants totaling more than $520,000 to fund programs aimed at reducing crashes, injuries and deaths on city streets.
The California Office of Traffic Safety awarded the department $485,000 for a two-year Traffic Enforcement Program and an additional $36,400 for its Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program. Both grants run through September 2026.
Police say the funding will enhance education, enforcement and outreach to improve safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians across Modesto.
“We are grateful to receive these grants, which will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” Sgt. Darien Wilson said in a statement. “Through a combination of education and enforcement efforts, our goal is to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes and make our roads safer for everyone.”
$485K TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT GRANT
The larger grant will fund DUI checkpoints and patrols, distracted-driving operations and enforcement targeting speeding, red-light running and other high-risk violations.
It will also support officer training in impaired-driving enforcement, community education events and joint operations with neighboring law-enforcement agencies. The department said one goal is to focus on repeat DUI offenders who have outstanding warrants.
$36K BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY GRANT
The smaller grant will focus on promoting safe practices for people walking and biking and educating drivers to share the road responsibly.
Plans include safety “audits” of high-risk streets, school presentations, youth bike training courses, helmet fittings for children in need, community bike rides, and “open streets” events encouraging walking and cycling.
“By focusing on education, awareness and promoting safe practices, we aim to reduce crashes and prevent injuries,” Wilson said. “Ultimately, we’re working toward building more walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods where everyone can travel safely and confidently.”
Office of Traffic Safety Director Stephanie Dougherty said the grants are part of a broader statewide effort to reduce serious and fatal crashes. “Through focused enforcement, education and partnerships, we’re working toward a future where everyone on California roads can travel safely,” she said.
Both grants are funded through the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
THE STAKES IN MODESTO
The need for these programs is underscored by Modesto’s recent crash statistics. According to the Modesto Police Department’s 2024 annual report, officers investigated 2,489 collisions last year — up from 1,912 in 2023. The department issued more than 7,700 citations and made 616 DUI arrests, while fatal collisions decreased slightly from 21 in 2023 to 20 in 2024.
Pedestrian safety remains a particular concern. Modesto has been ranked among the most dangerous peer cities in California for pedestrian crashes, especially during nighttime hours, when lack of visibility and other risk factors drive collision rates upward.
These grants arrive against a backdrop of persistent traffic safety challenges and reduced resources; earlier reporting showed that Modesto’s Traffic Safety Unit had shrunk from 21 officers to just five, which critics have linked to worsening crash ranks.
With both grants now in place through 2026, Modesto police plan to expand traffic enforcement, public outreach and safety education — steps they hope will help make city streets safer for everyone who drives, walks or bikes.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM.
