The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All Grant Program provides funding to local governments and metropolitan planning organizations, or MPOs, to develop safety action plans and to carry out projects identified in those plans.
USDOT’s goal is aligned with Vision Zero, a collaborative partnership (which includes the N.C. Department of Transportation) that works to eliminate fatal and serious injuries caused by crashes on all roadways.
Using data and technical support provided by NCDOT, local agencies are better prepared when crafting these types of grants. To offset grant application costs, local agencies can request a partial match through NCDOT’s limited funding. The Safe Streets for All Grant program also promote low-cost and highly effective improvements for addressing roadway safety problems.
Most local governments and regional planning organizations in North Carolina that apply for a Safe Streets for All Grant Program this year will qualify for a safety action plan grant—a prerequisite when applying for infrastructure funding.
USDOT is seeking agencies to develop safety action plans that include specific timelines and projects for implementation, are based on specific prioritization criteria, and incorporate the Safe System Approach. Data-driven methodologies are required by USDOT when reviewing crash history, applying systemic analysis to identify risk-based locations and selecting road safety improvements to address safety problems. USDOT has provided an Action Plan Application Template to assist agencies pursuing planning grants.