Author:
Wade Carroll, AICP| Director of Community and Transportation Planning | wade.carroll@pondco.com


 

Introduction

In 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program to prevent roadway deaths and other serious injuries. The SS4A program funds local, regional, state, and tribal initiatives and supports the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) National Roadway Safety Strategy and its Safe System Approach. USDOT’s safety strategy is a comprehensive approach to ultimately reach its goal of zero roadway fatalities. The Safe System Approach was designed to focus on infrastructure, human behavior, responsible oversight of the vehicle and transportation industry, and emergency response.

SS4A Eligibility

The BIL has allocated $5 billion in funds from 2022-2026. The following groups are eligible:

• Political subdivisions of a State, which include counties, cities, towns, transit agencies, and other special districts.
• Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).
• Federally recognized tribal governments.

The SS4A program provides funding for two types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants.

Planning and Demonstration Grants

Planning and Demonstration Grants provide federal funds to develop, complete, or supplement a comprehensive safety action plan (referred to as an “Action Plan”). The goal of an Action Plan is to develop a holistic strategy to prevent roadway injuries and fatalities within a locality or region. These grants also fund supplemental planning and demonstration activities.

Implementation Grants

Implementation Grants provide federal funds to implement projects and strategies meant to address specific roadway safety problems identified in an Action Plan. Eligible projects and strategies can be infrastructural, behavioral, and/or operational activities. These grants may also include supplemental planning and demonstration activities to inform project-level planning, design, and development activities. Applicants must have an eligible Action Plan to apply for this grant.

Funding Opportunities

The fiscal year (FY) 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for SS4A grants is open and has multiple deadlines, depending on the grant type:

• April 4, 2024, 5 PM (EDT): Deadline #1 for Planning and Demonstration Grants
• May 16, 2024, 5 PM (EDT): Sole deadline for Implementation Grants. Deadline #2 for Planning and Demonstration Grants
• August 29, 2024, 5 PM (EDT): Deadline #3 for Planning and Demonstration Grants. NOFO closes

How Pond Can Help

Pond has a proven history of developing safety-related solutions, crafting community-focused systemwide safety strategies, and developing outreach strategies tailored for specific communities. Pond’s scope of roadway safety work includes four SS4A Action Plans, 12 county transportation plans, 18 corridor and intersection plans, five MPO regional transportation plans, and four municipal transportation plans. Pond utilizes a variety of data sources and innovative outreach techniques to develop proactive action plans that set the framework for a community-based Vision Zero program.