How much funding is available
There is just under $1B total available ($993M) this year.
- Implementation Grants: ~$688M
- Typical awards: $2.5M–$25M
- Only 40–70 awards expected
- Planning & Demonstration Grants: ~$306M
- Typical awards: $100K–$5M
- 400–700 awards expected
Implementation funding is large but selective. Planning grants are still the primary on-ramp.
What types of projects are eligible
This program still centers on reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries across all users.
Eligible work includes:
- Creating or updating a comprehensive safety action plan
- Supplemental planning (data, audits, engagement)
- Demonstration pilots (quick-builds, pilots, tech testing)
- Designing projects tied to a plan
- Implementing safety projects from a plan
You need a strong Action Plan to unlock real infrastructure funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants:
- Cities, towns, counties
- MPOs
- Tribal governments
- Multi-jurisdictional partnerships
There are two distinct grant tracks
Planning & Demonstration
- Build or strengthen your Action Plan
- Lower barrier, higher volume of awards
- Often the right starting point
Implementation
- Funds your actual projects
- Requires an existing, qualifying Action Plan
- Can bundle design + pilots + implementation together
You can only submit one application total (you must choose a track).
How competitive this is
This remains a highly competitive, merit-based program.
Applications are scored on:
- Clear safety problem (data-driven)
- Demonstrated safety impact
- Cost effectiveness
- Stakeholder engagement and partnerships
For implementation, they are explicitly looking for:
- Projects on high-injury networks
- Evidence-based interventions
- Scalable, high-impact strategies
What’s different this year
A few meaningful shifts:
- Stronger, explicit emphasis on public safety infrastructure: EMS, emergency response coordination, post-crash care systems
- Clearer evaluation criteria: More explicit scoring guidance → easier to target, harder to bluff
- More flexibility in funding allocation: If planning grants are weak, funds may shift to implementation
- Continued mentions of:
- Equity / underserved communities
- Low-cost, high-impact strategies
- Multi-stakeholder coordination
What you need to be competitive
This is where most applications fail, don't ignore the list below.
A strong application now requires:
1. A credible Action Plan (or a path to one)
- Must cover the full jurisdiction (not just a corridor)
- Must include data, stakeholder input, and prioritized projects
2. Real partnerships
- Multi-jurisdictional applications are encouraged
- You need coordination across overlapping geographies
- Proof of coordination is required in the application
3. A 20% local match
- Federal share caps at 80%
- Match can be cash or in-kind, but must be non-federal in most cases
4. Evidence and data
- Crash data (5-year baseline)
- High-injury network identification
- Clear link between problem, intervention, and outcome
5. Delivery credibility
- Timeline, permitting, readiness
- Ability to execute within 2–5 years
6. Strong engagement strategy
- Not just outreach; demonstrated collaboration
- Especially with underserved communities and safety stakeholders
Key dates
These are coming up very quick.
- Applications due: May 26, 2026
- Technical questions due: April 24, 2026
- (Implementation only) Pre-application eligibility review: April 24, 2026
Bottom line
- If you don’t have an Action Plan, focus on Planning grants.
- If you do have one, this is a real shot at implementation funding, but only if it’s strong and current.
The winning applications will be the ones that show coordination, data discipline, and clear execution readiness.
