Apply for Safe Streets and Roads for All funding with an existing Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Ohio Department of Transportation sent this bulletin at 07/19/2022 10:01 AM EDT

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ISSUE #66

Apply for SS4A funding with an existing Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) is a new US Department of Transportation (USDOT) competitive grant program established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with the goal to significantly reduce or eliminate roadway deaths and serious injuries. With $1 billion of funding available in the first year, and the option to apply for implementation grants using an existing safety action plan (such as a bicycle & pedestrian safety plan), now is the time for Ohio communities to implement proven strategies to create safer streets for all users.

The grant is available to regional, local, and Tribal organizations, and regional and multi-agency safety plan applications our encouraged. For the full SS4A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), as well as application aides and relevant grant guidance, visit the USDOT SS4A website: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A.

At least $5 billion of grant funding will be distributed to communities across the country over the next 5 years to support planning, strategies, and implementation projects that improve safety of everyone using our streets, especially those outside of a car. Plans and implementation projects should take a systemic approach to roadway safety through application of the Safe System Approach and Complete Streets concepts. For fiscal year 2022, there is $1 billion of grant funding available. Applications for the inaugural year of grants are due by September 15, 2022 at 5pm EST through www.grants.gov. For technical questions, contact the SS4A grant program staff at SS4A@dot.gov by August 15, 2022.

This grant opportunity will fund efforts to:

Carry out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan,
Develop or update a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (Action Plan); or
Conduct planning, design, and development activities in support of an Action Plan.

For this first application cycle, recently developed Vision Zero Action Plans and Bicycle or Pedestrian Safety Action Plans may be eligible for implementation funding if they meet SS4A requirements. Your community could receive up to $50,000,000 in implementation funds for projects that make walking and biking safer; see question #6 below and use the self-certification eligibility worksheet to understand if your existing plan could qualify for implementation funding this year.

Not ready for implementation yet? Consider applying for a grant to develop an Action Plan. USDOT aims to fund the activities identified Action Plans through future implementation grants, creating a clear path straight from planning to implementation.

Be sure to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity and resources from USDOT for full application details and check out some of the FAQs from USDOT. If you are considering applying, start by registering for a Grants.Gov account, as approvals may take 2-4 weeks.

SS4A decision flowchart describing whether communities are eligible for implementation or action plan grants

Need to develop or supplement a plan? Apply for an Action Plan Grant.	Already have an eligible plan? You’ll want to apply for Implementation Grants.
*1. What types of grant funding are available?*
Action Plan Grants provide funding for communities to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan (Action Plan). Funding can also be used to complete or supplement an existing Action Plan to meet SS4A requirements. The purpose of an Action Plan is to create a detailed strategy for reducing and preventing roadway deaths and serious injuries.	Implementation Grants can be used to implement the infrastructure projects, non-infrastructure strategies, and operational activities identified in the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. To be eligible for an implementation grant, communities must have an Action Plan or an existing plan, such as a bicycle or pedestrian safety plan, that meets the SS4A eligibility requirements.
Eligible activities: Development of an Action Plan Supplemental Action Plan activities to support an existing Action Plan	Eligible activities: Implementation of infrastructure, behavioral, or operational recommendations from an Action Plan Supplemental Action Plan activities to support an existing Action Plan
*2. Who is eligible to apply?*
Local governments including cities, villages, counties, and special districts Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) A multijurisdictional group of local governments and/or MPOs Federally recognized Tribal governments	The same entities are eligible for this funding but must also meet one of the criteria below: Ownership and maintenance responsibilities for the relevant roadway network Safety responsibilities that affect the relevant roadway network Or, have an agreement with the agency that owns and maintains the relevant roadway network
Joint applications are encouraged. Each entity in a joint application must meet the above eligibility.
*3. How much funding is available?* There is no required minimum or maximum award size, however USDOT has provided expected minimum and maximum awards based on the type of applicant.
Expected minimum award: $200,000 Expected maximum award: $1,000,000 Expected maximum award for MPOs or joint applicants: $5,000,000	Expected minimum award: $3,000,000 Expected maximum award: $30,000,000 Expected maximum award for MPOs or joint applicants: $50,000,000
*4. What are the application selection criteria?*
Safety Impact Equity Additional Safety Considerations Budget Costs	Safety Impact Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration Effective Practices and Strategies Climate Change and Sustainability Project Readiness Funds to Underserved Communities

5. Is local match required to receive grant funding?

Yes. All grant recipients must contribute at least 20 percent local match. In-kind contributions (personnel, space, utilities, etc.), cash, and/or funding from other non-Federal sources can be counted towards the match requirement.

6. What are the components of an SS4A-eligible Action Plan?

The components listed below must be included in an Action Plan developed with SS4A funding. Communities applying for implementation funding must have a Vision Zero Action Plan, bicycle/pedestrian safety plan, or other existing plan that includes all the components in italics below and at least four of the other listed components. See the self-certification eligibility worksheet.

Leadership Commitment to safety
Planning Structure overseeing planning and implementation
Systemic Safety Analysis including existing conditions and High-Injury Network
Engagement and Collaboration with the public, community stakeholders, and adjacent jurisdictions
Equity Considerations for underserved and marginalized communities
Policy and Process Changes to prioritize safety in agency processes
Strategy and Project Selections prioritized to significantly improve roadway safety
Progress and Transparency through annual reporting
Finalized and Adopted Plan as of 2017 or later

7. Are there any Ohio-specific resources?

Ohio Department of Transportation and other state departments can be partners but cannot be grant applicants. If you need a letter of support from ODOT to support your application, please use this Support Letter Request
ODOT’s Highway Safety Program has several crash analysis and planning tools. Check out the Crash Analysis and Planning Evaluation (CAPE) Tool as well as the Local Road Safety Plan template today!
The Active Transportation Academy offers a Vision Zero Action Plan Workshop that could help get you started on plan development. Request a workshop via Formstack.
ODOT maintains a website on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with information on discretionary grants and other opportunities updated as they are released.

Announcements

The new Reconnecting Communities Pilot grant program from USDOT is also now open, with applications due by October 13. Find out more.
Ohio’s House Bill 377 authorized an investment of $500 million to transform Appalachian communities in 32 counties. Grants will be made for planning or implementation of projects, including for multi-community connecting trails and outdoor community spaces. Sign up to receive updates on the program through the Governor’s Office of Appalachia.
Join us on September 20 for the SRTS webinar, Stepping It Up: Implementing your SRTS Plan, to hear from your peer communities across the state on their SRTS implementation success stories. Register here.
Check out the newly updated Ohio Bikeways Brochure, featuring some of Ohio's most significant long-distance bicycling opportunities.
The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professional’s annual conference is August 22-24 in Minneapolis, MN. Register here.