Traffic Records Funding

Funding

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) was enacted on August 10, 2005. SAFETEA-LU authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 5-year period 2005-2009. Visit the FHWA SAFETEA-LU website for more information.

SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization Bill

Official language approved by the House and Senate on the Section 408 State Traffic Safety Information System Improvements Program.

Federal Registry

Official rules of the distribution of traffic safety information systems funding, as published in the Federal Registry.

Alternative Funding Sources & Examples of Use

Depending on the project, there may be several possible funding sources to support the endeavor. Please browse the links below to learn more and view eligibility requirements. Many grants will require the grantee to apply through the http://www.grants.gov website, which requires pre-registration. The registration process for an organization or an individual can take between three to five business days or as long as four weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner. Please register early, as windows of opportunity to apply for grants are often narrow.

New Funding Opportunity!!

Surface Transportation Infrastructure - Discretionary Grants for Capital Investments II, pre-applications due July 16, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. EST. The DOT pre-application system will open no later than June 15, 2010 to allow prospective applicants to submit pre-applications. Subsequently, the Grants.gov “Apply” function will open on July 30, 2010, allowing applicants to submit applications. Pursuant to the FY 2010 Appropriations Act, DOT will evaluate all applications and announce the projects that have been selected to receive TIGER II Discretionary Grants no sooner than September 15, 2010.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to award $600 million in TIGER II Discretionary Grants pursuant to Title I (Department of Transportation) of the FY 2010 Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 111-117, Dec. 16, 2009). This appropriation is similar, but not identical to the appropriation for the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or “TIGER Discretionary Grant”, program authorized and implemented pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”). Because of the similarity in program structure and objectives, DOT is referring to the grants for National Infrastructure Investments under the FY 2010 Appropriations Act as “TIGER II Discretionary Grants”. As with the TIGER program, funds for the TIGER II program are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area or a region.

We are working to provide examples of how states have used alternative funding sources to support traffic-records related projects, as well as examples of innovative, cross-purpose projects.

Graphical Information Systems

The state of Ohio is currently building a statewide Location Based Referencing System (LBRS) that is funded by Section 408, 9-1-1 money, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) 143, and state/local matching funds. The following slideshow was presented at the 2009 Traffic Records Forum in Phoenix, Arizona by Gene Del Greco of the Richland County Regional Planning Commission, Jeremiah Glascock of Traffic Safety Analysis Systems & Services, and Ron Cramer of Digital Data Technologies, Inc.

Location Based Referencing System (LBRS) Presentation (.pdf, 14,994k)

The Role of Data in Law Enforcement Decision-Making

How can timely information benefit law enforcement make better use of their time and resources? Ted Mindall, Region 1 Law Enforcement Liaison, presented the following at the Bi-Regional all-Inclusive Data Group Exchange (BRIDGE) in Mystic, Connecticut on February 26, 2009. Data Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) integrates location-based crime and traffic data to establish effective and efficient methods for deploying law enforcement and other resources. Using geomapping to identify areas that have high incidences of crime and crashes, DDACTS uses traffic enforcement strategies that play a dual role in fighting crime and reducing crashes and traffic violations. Drawing on the deterrent of highly visible traffic enforcement and the knowledge that crimes often involve the use of motor vehicles, the goal of DDACTS is to reduce the incidence of crime, crashes, and traffic violations across the country.

Data Driven Approach to Resolving Traffic Safety Issues (.pdf, 4,495k)

Federal Highway Administration Funding Programs in Support of Traffic Records

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) supports both the crash and roadway data systems, but to a lesser-known extent FHWA supports traffic records initiatives by allowing four grant programs to be used for traffic records improvement. Robert Ramirez, FHWA Connecticut Division, presented at the Regions 1 and 2 Bi-Regional Traffic Records Workshop in Saratoga Springs, NY in February 2007 to demonstrate how states in NHTSA Regions 1 and 2 were using FHWA funds to support traffic records initiatives.

USDOT - Working Together to Support Traffic Records (.pdf, 255k)

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Programs in Support of Traffic Records

Demonstrates how states in Regions 1 and 2 used SaDIP and CVARS grants to improve traffic records. Carolyn Temperine of the FMCSA Eastern Service Center presented at the Regions 1 and 2 Bi-Regional Traffic Records Workshop in Saratoga Springs, NY in February 2007 to demonstrate how states in NHTSA Regions 1 and 2 were using FMCSA funds to support traffic records initiatives.

FMCSA Systems (.pdf, 277k)

Federal Grants Website - Grants.gov

"Allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. Grants.gov is THE single access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies."
- www.grants.gov