Nearly $1 Billion on the Table: USDOT's Safe Streets for All Grants Open for 2026 Applications

[Above photo by AASHTO]

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has opened applications for nearly $1 billion in Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grants, marking the final major round of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These competitive grants target critical safety upgrades like faster emergency response times, expanded truck parking, modernized rail crossings, and family-friendly neighborhood streets—aimed at preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries nationwide.

2. Two Grant Tracks to Fit Your NeedsUSDOT offers two flexible funding paths:

• Planning and Demonstration Grants ($305 million available): Fund the creation, completion, or enhancement of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan to lay the groundwork for data-driven safety strategies.

• Implementation Grants ($688 million available): Support real-world projects and strategies tied to an existing Action Plan, tackling everything from intersection redesigns to pedestrian infrastructure.

  
  

Eligible applicants include metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), local governments (cities, counties, towns), federally recognized Tribal governments, and multijurisdictional collaborations. Applications are due May 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EDT—check the full FY26 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for details.

3. A Collaborative Push for Safer RoadsGrant selections involve experts from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), ensuring a holistic review. USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the program's real-world impact: "This grant program will cover everything from ensuring paramedics can reach you faster in an emergency to making sure kids are safer when walking to school." It's about empowering states, localities, and Tribes to modernize infrastructure and save lives.

4. Why This Matters NowAs the last big tranche from the IIJA's $5 billion SS4A allocation (2022-2026), these funds represent a prime opportunity for communities to address pressing safety gaps. From rural roads to urban corridors, projects can protect pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and commercial operators alike.

Key Takeaways

• $999.5 million total: $688M for implementation, $306M for planning/demonstration.

• Deadline: May 26, 2026—apply via Grants.gov.

• Focus: Proven Safe System Approach strategies to cut deaths and injuries.