Up to $23-25 million in funds are currently available each year through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Tribal Transportation Safety Fund (TTPSF) to go toward transportation safety projects in Tribal areas. This funding opportunity will remain open until 2026, and eligible applicants must be federally recognized tribes. Awarded each year, successful projects under TTPSF address the prevention and reduction of death or serious injuries in transportation related incidents, such as motor vehicle crashes. TTPSF has demonstrated a high potential for success and has funded 70% of applicants since its inception in 2022.
Transportation fatalities and injuries severely impact the quality of life in Indian country. Each year under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), as enacted by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58), 4% of the available TTP funds are set aside to address transportation safety issues identified by tribes through this competitive, discretionary program.
Eligible TTPSF projects include:
- develop and update transportation safety plans
- safety data assessment, improvement, and analysis
- systemic roadway departure countermeasures
- infrastructure improvements and other eligible activities as listed in 23 U.S.C. 148(a)(4)
Implementation projects must be consistent with a transportation safety plan and must (i) correct or improve a hazardous road location or feature or (ii) address a highway safety problem. Projects must be identified through a data-driven process. The TTPSF is focused on improving transportation safety, but many TTPSF projects also address community health, livability, sustainability, transportation alternatives, and climate change.
The grant application window is open October 1 through January 15 every year until 2026. For the FY23 round, awards are anticipated to be announced in June 2024. Further program information is available on FHWA’s TTPSF Program Page. For more information on transportation safety and other transportation funding opportunities for Tribal governments, explore www.tribalsafety.org and sign up for the newsletter.