PennDOT Behavioral Highway Safety Grants

Full description from the funder

Apply for PennDOT Behavioral Highway Safety Grants PennDOT provides traffic safety grants to local governments, PA state-related universities, PA State System of Higher Education universities, and nonprofit organizations to improve highway safety and reduce deaths and serious injuries due to crashes. First-time applicants must be preapproved by first submitting a letter of interest to RA-PDSHSO_GRANTS@pa.gov . Letters must be written on agency letterhead and include the organization’s FEIN, a summary of the proposed project, a budget estimate, and the specific local grant opportunity listed below that the agency intends to pursue.

Agencies will be notified by email of preapproval or denial. The application cycle is currently closed for the current Federal Fiscal Year and will reopen next spring. We are currently accepting submissions for new grant program requests for consideration by the Safety Advisory Committee (SAC). Proposals should be for new program ideas not covered by the existing grant opportunities listed below. Submissions may be made by completing the Grant Program Request Form (DOC) and emailing to RA-PDSHSO_GRANTS@pa.gov .

For consideration in the next application cycle, forms must be submitted by November 20, 2026. Overview PennDOT’s Behavioral Traffic Safety Unit offers traffic safety grants to support local communities and organizations working to make Pennsylvania’s roads safer. Eligible applicants include local governments, universities within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Pennsylvania state related universities, and nonprofit organizations. These grants are funded through federal programs administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under 23 U.S.C. §402 and §405.

Funding follows the federal fiscal year, which runs from October 1 through September 30. Grant opportunities focus on proven, data driven strategies that address the most urgent traffic safety challenges across the Commonwealth. Available funds are allocated using formulas based on crash data to ensure resources are directed where they can make the greatest impact. The Behavioral Traffic Safety Unit is not permitted to fund equipment only grant requests. All funded projects must include programmatic or behavioral safety components aligned with evidence based countermeasures.

Current local grant opportunities are listed further down the page. "}}"> PennDOT’s Behavioral Traffic Safety Unit offers traffic safety grants to support local communities and organizations working to make Pennsylvania’s roads safer. Eligible applicants include local governments, universities within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, Pennsylvania state related universities, and nonprofit organizations. These grants are funded through federal programs administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under 23 U.S.C. §402 and §405.

Funding follows the federal fiscal year, which runs from October 1 through September 30. Grant opportunities focus on proven, data driven strategies that address the most urgent traffic safety challenges across the Commonwealth. Available funds are allocated using formulas based on crash data to ensure resources are directed where they can make the greatest impact. The Behavioral Traffic Safety Unit is not permitted to fund equipment only grant requests. All funded projects must include programmatic or behavioral safety components aligned with evidence based countermeasures.

Current local grant opportunities are listed further down the page. Schedule Application period:  April 1 - May 31 Proposal evaluation:  April 1 - June 30 Approval period:  July 1 - September 30 Grant term:  October 1 - September 30 "}}"> Application period: April 1 - May 31 Proposal evaluation: April 1 - June 30 Approval period: July 1 - September 30 Grant term: October 1 - September 30 Who is Eligible? Eligible applicants vary for each grant opportunity but generally include state and local* governments, PA state-related universities and PA State System of Higher Education universities, and nonprofit organizations with existing IRS 501(c)(3) status.

See specific grant opportunities for additional information concerning eligibility. *Local governments means a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority (including public and Indian housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937), council of governments (whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under state law), and other regional or interstate government entity, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government. "}}"> Eligible applicants vary for each grant opportunity but generally include state and local* governments, PA state-related universities and PA State System of Higher Education universities, and nonprofit organizations with existing IRS 501(c)(3) status.

See specific grant opportunities for additional information concerning eligibility. *Local governments means a county, municipality, city, town, township, local public authority (including public and Indian housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937), council of governments (whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under state law), and other regional or interstate government entity, or any agency or instrumentality of a local government. Learn more about highway safety in PA Return to PennDOT home Minimum Qualifications for Applications Deliver services promptly.

Manage public funds efficiently and ethically. Collaborate with other community, governmental and private organizations. Develop data-driven problem-solving plans. Develop measurable goals based on multi-year data. Adequately evaluate the success of a project. Have a Certification of Responsibility Determination (Commonwealth Contractor Responsibility Program DOT Certification). Have an approved Lobbying Certification Form (if applicable). Have a statement on agency l