Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Transportation. Provides funding for planning, infrastructure, and behavioral initiatives to prevent fatalities and serious injuries on roads and streets involving all roadway users, including pedestrians.

What’s New in SS4A Grant Program? : Deadline is May 26, 2026 | Vision Zero Network April 6, 2026 • BY Tiffany Smith • in News What’s New in SS4A Grant Program? : Deadline is May 26, 2026 A new round of Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funding is open, and we encourage your community to take advantage of it.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced nearly $1 billion in available funding for this year’s round of SS4A, with applications due May 26, 2026 at 5pm EDT. Check out the FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity . We're encouraged to see that this fifth and final round of the SS4A program continues to center the Safe System approach and prioritize communities building strong plans, projects (including demonstrations!)

and policies (also including demonstrations!) to prevent road deaths and serious injuries. Whether your community is just beginning its road safety journey or looking to advance projects identified in your Vision Zero Action Plan, this funding could significantly boost your efforts.

And yes, even if your community has already received SS4A funding in a prior round, you may still be eligible to apply (more below). Communities of all sizes (yes, small ones!) and types (yes, rural and suburban too!)

are encouraged to apply. There are some important differences in this year’s funding opportunity – see below. What Is SS4A and Who Can Apply?

The SS4A program funds local, regional, and Tribal communities to plan for and implement roadway safety improvements grounded in the Safe System Approach. Eligible applicants include metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), political subdivisions of a state or territory (cities, towns, counties), federally recognized Tribal governments, and multijurisdictional groups of any of these entities.

There are two types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants support communities in developing or updating a comprehensive safety Action Plan, conducting supplemental safety planning, and/or carrying out demonstration activities that inform an Action Plan. This is the more approachable pathway — especially for smaller communities or those new to the program — and we strongly encourage communities to consider it (more below).

Implementation Grants fund projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that meets SS4A requirements. Eligible plans must have been finalized or updated between 2021 and May 26, 2026. This category is far more competitive than planning and demonstration grants What's New in the FY2026 Round?

While many core elements of the SS4A program remain consistent with prior years, there are some important updates to know about before crafting proposals, including the following: Some content is now viewed less favorably.

According to the USDOT’s information, a “less favorable view” will be taken toward applications that include infrastructure that reduces level of service for vehicles, automated traffic enforcement (outside of work zones, school zones, or school buses), or new dedicated bicycle lanes that reduce vehicular capacity or impair vehicle movements.

Communities should be aware of these signals when designing their proposed projects (read exact language here ). At the same time, many proven safety strategies can still align with this guidance. Focus on clearly articulating the safety problem you are addressing and the expected safety benefits.

Where applicable, highlight how design changes can improve overall roadway function—for example, lane reconfigurations that reduce conflict points, support turning movements, and may maintain or even improve traffic flow. Thoughtful framing matters: emphasize safety outcomes, system performance, and benefits for all road users.

Emergency Response Elements are emphasized: USDOT is placing increased emphasis or what it defines as “public safety infrastructure,” which includes “physical and digital hardware, software, systems, technologies, equipment, protocols, facilities, and coordination models used by public safety agencies…to either prevent, respond to, or reduce the severity of roadway crashes.

” This includes investments in EMS coordination, trauma response systems, 911 systems, digital alert tools, and other post-crash care strategies. Applications that demonstrate strong collaboration with first responders, fire services, law enforcement, and trauma system partners and that clearly improve post-crash survivability are likely to be more competitive.

Watch this webinar to gain practical insights on preparing a strong FY26 SS4A post-crash care application. Source: Cranberry Township EMS Evaluation criteria offer additional transparency. USDOT has updated its review rubric to show how applications will be assessed.

We encourage you to read Section G of the application process and use the updated merit criteria as a checklist. Moreover, a senior review team, composed of senior DOT officials, will determine which highly rated Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants will be advanced.

Given that, final selections may consider factors beyond technical scoring, so it’s important to align your proposal not only with the evaluation criteria but also with broader USDOT priorities highlighted in the NOFO. Surplus planning funds may now be redirected to implementation. In previous rounds, there was a firm limit on how the planning and implementation funds were split.

Now, in FY2026, USDOT may redirect surplus funds to merit-worthy implementation grants if not enough eligible planning applications are submitted. (See below why we still recommend most communities prioritizing planning and demonstration grants. Our Tips for Strong Applications Make a clear, direct case for safety needs, solutions and anticipated safety outcomes.

Use crash data, fatality and serious injury trends, public input, and, where available, High Injury and High Risk maps to identify where and why interventions are needed. Be explicit about the connection between your proposed work and real safety problems on the ground, including concerns raised by the people most affected.

Anticipate how your proposed projects or planning efforts will reduce fatalities and serious injuries, including referencing the federal government’s own proven safety countermeasures . NOTE for smaller communities: Even if your total number of crashes or fatalities is relatively low , you can still make a strong case by highlighting rates (e.g., fatalities per capita), high-risk corridors, or specific recurring safety issues.

The program prioritizes communities that have not previously received SS4A funding, and rural applicants receive favorable consideration. If your community has a fatality rate of 17. 5 per 100,000 people or higher, that can further strengthen Planning and Demonstration applications.

Don’t assume your community is too small to be competitive. Planning & demonstration proposals are a smart way to win SS4A funding and to test creative, high-impact ideas. Supplemental activities can be included under either the Planning & Demonstration or Implementation categories, and importantly, they can still be funded even if your Implementation proposal is not selected.

That flexibility creates real opportunity. Even if your community is still developing an Action Plan (including one funded by a previous SS4A grant), you can apply for Supplemental Planning funds to deepen your work such as developing a standardized plan for robust community engagement or advancing corridor-specific safety studies on high-risk routes. At the same time, Demonstration activities let you put ideas into practice right away.

Communities can pilot quick-build street designs using low-cost materials or explore innovative approaches such as telematics, adaptive signal timing, or variable speed limits. These efforts not only improve safety in the short term but they also build momentum and evidence for longer-term investments.

Consider high-risk areas for improvements, not only high-injury areas: While developing and using high-injury networks (HIN) is important, safety work can be scaled up by using a high-risk network to identify areas that may not be showing up on your HIN but have attributes that make them risky, such as high speeds, high traffic volumes, and other factors.

Integrating a high-risk approach into your SS4A work can help you broaden your work beyond the locations where severe injury and fatal crashes have already occurred by taking a more forward-looking approach to target improvements in areas that are likely to be problems in the future. (See San Antonio, Texas’ approach as an example.) Bundle multiple ideas.

You don’t need to limit your application to a single activity. Strong proposals combine multiple planning and demonstration activities – each addressing different elements of a Safe System approach: safe speeds, safe roads, safe vehicles, and safe road users. (see example below).

This could include developing a speed management plan ; conducting safety audits on High Injury Network corridors ; advancing Safe Routes to School plans or other youth- and family-focused initiatives; piloting improved street lighting to better illuminate pedestrian crossings; and piloting Intelligent Speed Assistance in your community’s fleet vehicles.

You might also pilot quick-build street redesigns and rigorously measure their impacts, test reduced speed limits in residential zones, or deploy vehicle- and technology-based interventions. For inspiration, explore how Bellevue and Baltimore bundled multiple Safe System strategies across planning and demonstration activities. And watch the 1-hour webinar featuring Baltimore and Bellevue examples.

Example of a range of projects that can be bundled together as part of a robust SS4A application that targets each element of the Safe System Approach. Source: Vision Zero Network Engage first responders and public safety partners.

Given the extra emphasis on public safety infrastructure, involving EMS, fire, and law enforcement partners in your application — and including letters of support from those agencies — will strengthen your proposal.

Ideas include developing a multi-agency crash investigation team to analyze and address root causes of serious crashes in more systemic ways; Safe Systems training for police and fire department partners; and having first responders train and equip community members with tools like Stop the Bleed kits, so that bystanders can act before emergency personnel arrive.

Learn more about how to develop a strong post-crash care oriented SS4A application. Emphasize safety benefits to families, jobs, and the local economy . This grant emphasizes safety for children and families, so highlight this in your proposals.

In addition to youth-specific projects (exs: developing a Safe Routes to School plan, piloting traffic calming measures, lowering speed limits in school zones, and new school bike-bus programs ), lift up youth in general projects too. Is there a school near an area that needs safety improvements, though it may not have been framed originally as a school-area project?

Can you emphasize the inclusion of schools, playgrounds, and other youth-friendly areas (including neighborhoods with high rates of children) in a supplemental planning efforts, such as developing a speed management plan or daylighting assessment, and trials of traffic calming strategies – with an emphasis on some being in school areas.

In addition, the SS4A program emphasizes improved access to jobs and essential services, and more reliable movement of people and goods. So think about how these factors may be elevated in your proposals. And where possible, quantify these benefits such as reductions in crashes, emergency response delays, and public costs related to healthcare and emergency services.

(See Austin, Texas’ impressive financial savings based on Investing in Safety .) More resources to boost your chances Read much more detail and examples on the USDOT’s official SS4A page .

Tune into an upcoming USDOT webinar on SS4A: Implementation Grants — April 7, 2026 | 1:30–3:00 PM ET Action Plans — April 9, 2026 | 1:30–3:00 PM ET Supplemental Planning & Demonstration Activities — April 14, 2026 | 1:30–3:00 PM ET For Implementation proposals, take advantage of USDOT’s pre-application review process . Jurisdictions applying can submit their Action Plans for eligibility review by April 24.

Join Vision Zero Network’s SS4A webinar on April 15 to share more tips. See Vision Zero Network’s more detailed – and updated – SS4A online resource , which includes highlights of past, successful SS4A funded plans and projects. We wish you luck!

Remember that the deadline for this year’s SS4A applications is May 26, 2025 at 5pm EDT. We suggest not waiting to apply at the last minute, as there may be technical issues and that deadline is firm. A new round of Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funding is open, and we encourage your community to take advantage of it.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced nearly $1 billion in available funding for this year’s round of SS4A, with applications due May 26, 2026 at 5pm EDT. Check out the FY2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity . We're encouraged to see that this fifth and final round of the SS4A program continues to center the Safe System approach and prioritize communities building strong plans, projects (including demonstrations!)

and policies (also including demonstrations!) to prevent road deaths and serious injuries. Whether your community is just beginning its road safety journey or looking to advance projects identified in your Vision Zero Action Plan, this funding could significantly boost your efforts.

And yes, even if your community has already received SS4A funding in a prior round, you may still be eligible to apply (more below). Communities of all sizes (yes, small ones!) and types (yes, rural and suburban too!)

are encouraged to apply. There are some important differences in this year’s funding opportunity – see below. What Is SS4A and Who Can Apply?

The SS4A program funds local, regional, and Tribal communities to plan for and implement roadway safety improvements grounded in the Safe System Approach. Eligible applicants include metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), political subdivisions of a state or territory (cities, towns, counties), federally recognized Tribal governments, and multijurisdictional groups of any of these entities.

There are two types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants support communities in developing or updating a comprehensive safety Action Plan, conducting supplemental safety planning, and/or carrying out demonstration activities that inform an Action Plan. This is the more approachable pathway — especially for smaller communities or those new to the program — and we strongly encourage communities to consider it (more below).

Implementation Grants fund projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that meets SS4A requirements. Eligible plans must have been finalized or updated between 2021 and May 26, 2026. This category is far more competitive than planning and demonstration grants What's New in the FY2026 Round?

While many core elements of the SS4A program remain consistent with prior years, there are some important updates to know about before crafting proposals, including the following: Some content is now viewed less favorably.

According to the USDOT’s information, a “less favorable view” will be taken toward applications that include infrastructure that reduces level of service for vehicles, automated traffic enforcement (outside of work zones, school zones, or school buses), or new dedicated bicycle lanes that reduce vehicular capacity or impair vehicle movements.

Communities should be aware of these signals when designing their proposed projects (read exact language here ). At the same time, many proven safety strategies can still align with this guidance. Focus on clearly articulating the safety problem you are addressing and the expected safety benefits.

Where applicable, highlight how design changes can improve overall roadway function—for example, lane reconfigurations that reduce conflict points, support turning movements, and may maintain or even improve traffic flow. Thoughtful framing matters: emphasize safety outcomes, system performance, and benefits for all road users.

Emergency Response Elements are emphasized: USDOT is placing increased emphasis or what it defines as “public safety infrastructure,” which includes “physical and digital hardware, software, systems, technologies, equipment, protocols, facilities, and coordination models used by public safety agencies…to either prevent, respond to, or reduce the severity of roadway crashes.

” This includes investments in EMS coordination, trauma response systems, 911 systems, digital alert tools, and other post-crash care strategies. Applications that demonstrate strong collaboration with first responders, fire services, law enforcement, and trauma system partners and that clearly improve post-crash survivability are likely to be more competitive.

Watch this webinar to gain practical insights on preparing a strong FY26 SS4A post-crash care application. Source: Cranberry Township EMS Evaluation criteria offer additional transparency. USDOT has updated its review rubric to show how applications will be assessed.

We encourage you to read Section G of the application process and use the updated merit criteria as a checklist. Moreover, a senior review team, composed of senior DOT officials, will determine which highly rated Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants will be advanced.

Given that, final selections may consider factors beyond technical scoring, so it’s important to align your proposal not only with the evaluation criteria but also with broader USDOT priorities highlighted in the NOFO. Surplus planning funds may now be redirected to implementation. In previous rounds, there was a firm limit on how the planning and implementation funds were split.

Now, in FY2026, USDOT may redirect surplus funds to merit-worthy implementation grants if not enough eligible planning applications are submitted. (See below why we still recommend most communities prioritizing planning and demonstration grants. Our Tips for Strong Applications Make a clear, direct case for safety needs, solutions and anticipated safety outcomes.

Use crash data, fatality and serious injury trends, public input, and, where available, High Injury and High Risk maps to identify where and why interventions are needed. Be explicit about the connection between your proposed work and real safety problems on the ground, including concerns raised by the people most affected.

Anticipate how your proposed projects or planning efforts will reduce fatalities and serious injuries, including referencing the federal government’s own proven safety countermeasures . NOTE for smaller communities: Even if your total number of crashes or fatalities is relatively low , you can still make a strong case by highlighting rates (e.g., fatalities per capita), high-risk corridors, or specific recurring safety issues.

The program prioritizes communities that have not previously received SS4A funding, and rural applicants receive favorable consideration. If your community has a fatality rate of 17. 5 per 100,000 people or higher, that can further strengthen Planning and Demonstration applications.

Don’t assume your community is too small to be competitive. Planning & demonstration proposals are a smart way to win SS4A funding and to test creative, high-impact ideas. Supplemental activities can be included under either the Planning & Demonstration or Implementation categories, and importantly, they can still be funded even if your Implementation proposal is not selected.

That flexibility creates real opportunity. Even if your community is still developing an Action Plan (including one funded by a previous SS4A grant), you can apply for Supplemental Planning funds to deepen your work such as developing a standardized plan for robust community engagement or advancing corridor-specific safety studies on high-risk routes. At the same time, Demonstration activities let you put ideas into practice right away.

Communities can pilot quick-build street designs using low-cost materials or explore innovative approaches such as telematics, adaptive signal timing, or variable speed limits. These efforts not only improve safety in the short term but they also build momentum and evidence for longer-term investments.

Consider high-risk areas for improvements, not only high-injury areas: While developing and using high-injury networks (HIN) is important, safety work can be scaled up by using a high-risk network to identify areas that may not be showing up on your HIN but have attributes that make them risky, such as high speeds, high traffic volumes, and other factors.

Integrating a high-risk approach into your SS4A work can help you broaden your work beyond the locations where severe injury and fatal crashes have already occurred by taking a more forward-looking approach to target improvements in areas that are likely to be problems in the future. (See San Antonio, Texas’ approach as an example.) Bundle multiple ideas.

You don’t need to limit your application to a single activity. Strong proposals combine multiple planning and demonstration activities – each addressing different elements of a Safe System approach: safe speeds, safe roads, safe vehicles, and safe road users. (see example below).

This could include developing a speed management plan ; conducting safety audits on High Injury Network corridors ; advancing Safe Routes to School plans or other youth- and family-focused initiatives; piloting improved street lighting to better illuminate pedestrian crossings; and piloting Intelligent Speed Assistance in your community’s fleet vehicles.

You might also pilot quick-build street redesigns and rigorously measure their impacts, test reduced speed limits in residential zones, or deploy vehicle- and technology-based interventions. For inspiration, explore how Bellevue and Baltimore bundled multiple Safe System strategies across planning and demonstration activities. And watch the 1-hour webinar featuring Baltimore and Bellevue examples.

Example of a range of projects that can be bundled together as part of a robust SS4A application that targets each element of the Safe System Approach. Source: Vision Zero Network Engage first responders and public safety partners.

Given the extra emphasis on public safety infrastructure, involving EMS, fire, and law enforcement partners in your application — and including letters of support from those agencies — will strengthen your proposal.

Ideas include developing a multi-agency crash investigation team to analyze and address root causes of serious crashes in more systemic ways; Safe Systems training for police and fire department partners; and having first responders train and equip community members with tools like Stop the Bleed kits, so that bystanders can act before emergency personnel arrive.

Learn more about how to develop a strong post-crash care oriented SS4A application. Emphasize safety benefits to families, jobs, and the local economy . This grant emphasizes safety for children and families, so highlight this in your proposals.

In addition to youth-specific projects (exs: developing a Safe Routes to School plan, piloting traffic calming measures, lowering speed limits in school zones, and new school bike-bus programs ), lift up youth in general projects too. Is there a school near an area that needs safety improvements, though it may not have been framed originally as a school-area project?

Can you emphasize the inclusion of schools, playgrounds, and other youth-friendly areas (including neighborhoods with high rates of children) in a supplemental planning efforts, such as developing a speed management plan or daylighting assessment, and trials of traffic calming strategies – with an emphasis on some being in school areas.

In addition, the SS4A program emphasizes improved access to jobs and essential services, and more reliable movement of people and goods. So think about how these factors may be elevated in your proposals. And where possible, quantify these benefits such as reductions in crashes, emergency response delays, and public costs related to healthcare and emergency services.

(See Austin, Texas’ impressive financial savings based on Investing in Safety .) More resources to boost your chances Read much more detail and examples on the USDOT’s official SS4A page .

Tune into an upcoming USDOT webinar on SS4A: Implementation Grants — April 7, 2026 | 1:30–3:00 PM ET Action Plans — April 9, 2026 | 1:30–3:00 PM ET Supplemental Planning & Demonstration Activities — April 14, 2026 | 1:30–3:00 PM ET For Implementation proposals, take advantage of USDOT’s pre-application review process . Jurisdictions applying can submit their Action Plans for eligibility review by April 24.

Join Vision Zero Network’s SS4A webinar on April 15 to share more tips. See Vision Zero Network’s more detailed – and updated – SS4A online resource , which includes highlights of past, successful SS4A funded plans and projects. We wish you luck!

Remember that the deadline for this year’s SS4A applications is May 26, 2025 at 5pm EDT. We suggest not waiting to apply at the last minute, as there may be technical issues and that deadline is firm. SS4A FY26: What Changed & What Tools Can Support Your Application NEW: Right-Sizing the Role of Traffic Enforcement: Prioritizing Effective, Cost-Efficient and Equitable Improvements to Road Safety What’s New in SS4A Grant Program?

: Deadline is May 26, 2026 Driving Safer Behaviors: Practical Examples from Uber & CMT We Know What Works: Lessons from the Frontlines of Vision Zero Intelligent Speed Assistance in Practice: Pilots, Plans, and Funding Pathways Fields with a * are required. Leave this field empty if you're human: Top 10 Things to Stop Doing to Advance Vision Zero We Know What Works: Lessons from the Frontlines of Vision Zero