Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Transportation has opened applications for fiscal year 2026 of the Safe Streets and Roads for All competitive grant program, established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
- Nearly $1 billion will be available in this round for planning, infrastructure and other initiatives to prevent fatalities and serious injuries for all roadway users.
- “A grant like this is transformational,” Missoula, Montana, Mayor Andrea Davis said in a US DOT video last year.
Dive Insight:
The transportation department awarded $3.9 billion in federal funding to more than 2,000 communities in the first four fiscal years of the five-year program. In January, the DOT announced awards for the 2025 fiscal year, having revised the program to eliminate environmental justice, diversity, equity and inclusion requirements.
Eligible recipients include cities, counties and metropolitan planning organizations, a multijurisdictional group of such entities and federally recognized Tribal governments.
While there are no specific funding criteria for rural communities, the DOT said it would give such applicants consideration toward enhancing the geographic diversity of award recipients.
“We are so limited in our smaller community and rural state that it's hard to come up with large amounts of money for these big, transformative projects,” Aaron Wilson, planning manager for the Missoula metropolitan planning organization, said in the video.
Funding is available for planning and demonstration projects, as well as those with an approved action plan ready for implementation. Projects aimed at preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries can include those for pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, motorists and commercial vehicle operators.
“This will allow for an environment where we can ensure that people actually want to walk, they want to ride and they want to drive safely,” Detroit Councilmember Scott Benson said in the video.
The DOT will host a series of webinars beginning April 7 to help communities with the application process. Applications are due May 26, 2026.
