Transportation Safety Funding for Tribes
A webinar reviewing many sources of transportation safety funding available to Tribes through programs managed by state and federal agencies is available
here .
In addition to the information on this page, the
Transportation Funding Opportunities for Tribal Nations guide provides an overview of many USDOT grant programs.
Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds (TTPSF)
Each year under the FAST Act, 2% of the available TTP funds are set aside to address transportation safety issues in Tribal areas. Funds are available to federally recognized Indian tribes through a competitive, discretionary program. Awarded annually, projects are chosen whose outcomes will address the prevention and reduction of death or serious injuries in transportation related incidents, such as motor vehicle crashes. Transportation fatalities and injuries severely impact the quality of life in Indian country. Statistics are consistently higher than the rest of the nation as a whole; FHWA advocates the development of strategic Transportation Safety Plans as a means for tribes to determine how transportation safety needs will be addressed in and around tribal communities. Additional information on developing safety plans can be found here.
Eligible projects for the TTP Safety Fund under the FAST Act include: development and update of transportation safety plans, crash data assessment, improvement, and analysis; infrastructure improvements, and systemic roadway departure countermeasures.
Adam Larsen - Safety Engineer & Safety Program Manager
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) USDOT Grant Program
The SS4A supports planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians; bicyclists; public transportation, personal conveyance, and micromobility users; motorists; and commercial vehicle operators. The following activities are eligible for the SS4A program:
- Develop or update a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan).
- Conduct planning, design, and development activities in support of an Action Plan.
- Carry out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan.
There are two types of SS4A grants: Action Plan Grants and Implementation Grants.
Click Here for information on matching SS4A and TTP or TTPSF grants.
More information can be found at
https://www.transportation.gov/SS4A
BIA Indian Highway Safety Program
The Highway Safety Act of 1966, U.S.C. Title 23, Section 402, provides U.S. Department of Transportation funding to assist Indian tribes in implementing traffic safety projects. These Projects are designed to reduce the high number of traffic crashes and their resulting fatalities, injuries and property damage within Indian communities.
Indian Highway Safety grants are financial assistance grants for federally recognized tribes. If awarded, funds are to be used to enhance the tribe’s current law enforcement or child safety seat programs. All Indian Highway Safety grants are performance based.
Greg Knox, Acting Director
NHTSA GO Teams - Traffic Records Technical Assistance
Free technical assistance from a contractor paid by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to improve traffic safety data. GO Teams consist of 1-3 subject matter experts who are selected based on the specific traffic safety
needs of the Tribe. GO Teams recommend strategies, methods and tools that Tribes can use to overcome their traffic safety
challenges. Examples of possible GO Teams for Tribes include such tasks as:
- Improving your crash data collection
- Crash data analysis and problem identification
- Development of data sharing agreements
- Strategic planning and working with State Traffic Records Coordinating Committees
Report from completed Tribal GO team:
Use the application below to request your own GO team.
Tom Bragan - Program Analyst
Other Federal Funding Programs
File -
Highway Safety Improvement Program and State Highway Safety Programs
FHWA (23 U.S.C. 148) and NHTSA (23 U.S.C. 402 and 405(c)) funding managed by individual state DOTs.
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services offer programmatic opportunities to highlight best-practice community policing and safety programs. Opportunities exist for Tribal and local law enforcement agencies to apply for grants to pilot safety-oriented initiatives.