The U.S. Department of Transportation recently published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to build the capacity of state, local, and tribal governments to use innovative data tools and information to improve roadway safety.

“This is part of the Department’s ongoing effort to utilize predictive data analytics to identify and address systemic factors contributing to crashes and improve roadway safety in communities across America,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.

The NOFO is an important step in the Department’s Safety Data Initiative, which helps communities devise policies to reduce roadway fatalities. This funding opportunity makes available up to $3 million to develop, refine, and deploy safety tools that address specific roadway safety problems. The Department anticipates making awards of $250,000 to $500,000 to each successful applicant.

Eligible applicants are state or local governments, metropolitan planning organizations and regional governments, other political subdivisions of a state or local government, and tribal governments. The funding complements existing safety data improvement programs at the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration by focusing on improving data tools practitioners use to inform their policy and decision-making.

The NOFO is available on grants.gov at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=322472

On December 3, 2019 at 2:30 PM ET, the Department will hold a webinar to provide an overview of this funding opportunity. Information about registering for the webinar is available on the Department’s Safety Data Initiative webpages.

Applications are due by January 17, 2019 at 3:00 PM ET.