The city's street safety initiative just got a big boost from the U.S. Department of Transportation, thanks to the highly competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program.

The $25 million grant will go to 13 separate Vision Zero projects designed to improve pedestrian and bike access to schools, transit, and work, according to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“This investment will save lives. It means better designed streets and targeted initiatives that will help us change behaviors like speeding and failure to yield to pedestrians," de Blasio said in a statement. "From children near our schools school to seniors on the streets of their neighborhoods, we will have more tools than ever to protect our people."

"No question, this is a terrific shot in the arm to the city in terms of our Vision Zero work," said Polly Trottenberg, the city's transportation commissioner. She said the projects will "make safe connections — particularly in traditionally underserved neighborhoods — to education, to transit, to jobs."

While states and cities from Virginia to Seattle trumpeted their funding allocations Tuesday, the federal Department of Transportation declined to confirm the awards, saying that the agency has yet to make an official announcement. Among the projects known to be receiving funding are bridge repairs in Maine, mass transit in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and upgrades at the Port of Seattle.

The thirteen New York City projects that will receive support are listed below.

Safe Pedestrian Access to Education:

P.S. 154 Harriet Tubman School in Harlem

P.S. 54 Woodhaven, Queens

P.S. 239 Ridgewood, Queens

P.S. 199 Maurice Fitzgerald School in Long Island City, Queens

P.S. 92 Harry T. Stewart in Corona, Queens

P.S. 13 Clement C. Moore in Flushing, Queens

Our Lady's Catholic Academy in South Ozone Park, Queens

Our Lady's Queen of Peace School in New Dorp, Staten Island

Safe Pedestrian Access to Transit:

Harlem Station (Metro North)

4th Avenue in Brooklyn (north section between 8th and 18th streets)

4th Avenue in Brooklyn (south section between 33rd and 52nd)

Safe Bicycle Access to Jobs:

Brooklyn Greenway - Gowanus

Brooklyn Greenway - Owl's Head (Bay Ridge)

You can read the full text of the release below.

SENATOR SCHUMER AND MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCE $25 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR NYC’S VISION ZERO, A MAJOR SAFETY INITIATIVE; FUNDS WILL HELP MAKE NYC STREETS SAFER FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN, COMMUTERS & PEDESTRIANS

Massive Federal TIGER Grant for NYC’s Bold Vision Zero Initiative – A Cornerstone Initiative of the de Blasio Admin and DOT Commissioner Trottenberg-  Aims to Reduce Fatalities & Injuries Through Safety Improvements

Schumer, Mayor de Blasio Highlight that Money Will Fund 13 Safety Projects In Locations That Have Been Identified As High-Risk Areas Through Crash Analysis & Community Input

Projects Will Help Support Pedestrian & Bike Connections to Employment Centers, Improve Safety for School Children, Provide New Public Spaces & More

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) will receive $25 million in federal funding to support critical improvements as part of the New York City Vision Zero Initiative– a cornerstone safety plan crafted by City Hall and NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. The funding will help support traffic calming, pedestrian and bike connections to employment centers, creation of new public spaces and comprehensive safety improvements for school children. The City’s application includes plans for 13 such projects. In April, Schumer wrote a letter of to the U.S. Department of Transportation supporting this project through the federal DOT’s TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant program, which provides funding for road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives.

“This major federal funding is great news for New York City’s cornerstone street safety initiative, which will use federal TIGER funds to help make the City’s bustling streets safer for children, bikers and commuters,” said Schumer. “I am pleased to announce this massive $25 million federal TIGER grant for thirteen safety projects that are part of New York City’s Vision Zero– a bold initiative from Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Polly Trottenberg – which already has a great track record of success.”

“This investment will save lives. It means better designed streets and targeted initiatives that will help us change behaviors like speeding and failure to yield to pedestrians. We are proud to have strong federal partners like Senator Schumer, Secretary Foxx and the Obama Administration as we work to protect our communities and make Vision Zero a reality. From children near our schools school to seniors on the streets of their neighborhoods, we will have more tools than ever to protect our people,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The New York City Vision Zero Initiative aims to dramatically reduce fatalities and injuries by implementing safety improvements and increasing education and enforcement. The Vision Zero initiative involves targeted outreach to city schools, creating new slow zones, and implementing more comprehensive driving curriculum for taxi and limousine drivers, among many other policies and programs. So far this year, pedestrian fatalities are down more than 20 percent of the same period in 2013.

Today’s announcement will help support projects at locations that have been identified through crash analysis and community input. NYCDOT will implement safety projects including an extension of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway; street safety improvements near schools in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island; and pedestrian safety measures along dangerous corridors like Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park.

“Thank you to U.S. DOT,  Secretary Anthony Foxx, and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. I’m thrilled New York City was selected for this competitive TIGER Grant, which allows NYC DOT to improve safety for students, pedestrians, and commuters. Vision Zero is a top priority of the de Blasio administration and this funding proves the initiative’s importance and value,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “The grant covers projects throughout the city, from Staten Island’s New Dorp section to Harlem’s 125th Street and many areas in between, and millions of New Yorkers will benefit from this grant. We’re also excited to receive a grant to coordinate recovery planning in the Rockaways with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.”

The TIGER Discretionary Grant program provides an opportunity for DOT to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives. In each round of TIGER, DOT receives many applications to build and repair critical pieces of freight and passenger transportation networks.