Applications for 2024 Road to Zero Community Traffic Safety Grants open now

Applications are open for the 2024 Road to Zero Coalition Community Traffic Safety Grants. The application period runs from Nov. 13, 2023, through Jan. 14, 2024.

The Road to Zero Community Traffic Safety Grant Program supports innovative and promising approaches to improve traffic safety. Programs may implement evidence-based countermeasures, support a Safe System approach to roadway safety and perform necessary research to address traffic fatalities and disparities in mobility safety and access. 

2024 Road to Zero Community Traffic Safety Grants Overview

Application deadline is Jan. 14, 2024 at 11:55 pm Eastern

Road to Zero Coalition: Launched in 2016 as a partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Safety Council, the Road to Zero Coalition has the goal of ending fatalities on our nation’s roads by 2050. Tens of thousands of people die on U.S. roads each year, with historic increases and growing number of deaths for people walking and biking. To address this devastating trend, the Road to Zero Coalition, made up of over 1,800 member organizations, brings together a cross-sector approach to implementing proven techniques, sharing important research and information, and advancing the conversation around transportation safety through its three pillar, multi-modal framework focused on:

• Doubling down on what works through proven, evidence-based strategies
• Advancing life-saving technology in vehicles and infrastructure
• Prioritizing safety by adopting a Safe System approach and creating a positive safety culture

Road to Zero Grant Program: The focus of the Road to Zero Community Traffic Safety Grant Program is focused on supporting innovative and promising approaches for implementing evidence-based countermeasures, supporting a Safe System approach, and performing necessary research to address traffic fatalities, disparities in mobility safety and access, and overall improve traffic safety. Learn more about the Road to Zero Grant Program and the work of previous grantees.

• Proposals should demonstrate the promising nature of the countermeasure by describing the innovative implementation approach, citing the evidence of effectiveness or identifying how effectiveness will be evaluated, and/or discussing how the project fills a gap or addresses existing disparities in traffic safety.
• Proposed projects should have measurable objectives and generalizable results. That is, projects should demonstrate innovative approaches that could be replicated in other locations or scaled up to a broader level.
• Proposals from past Road to Zero grantees are acceptable. They may be for new projects or for additional innovations on the previous project (i.e. phase #2) but not a continuation of any current or previous project.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be a Road to Zero Coalition Member
• Applicant must be a non-profit organization or other entity. Individuals cannot apply.
• Government Entities (cities, states, counties, governors’ safety offices, etc.) also qualify.
• Proposed programs must operate within the United States.
• Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian Organizations are also eligible.

Funding

• Organizations may apply for a one-year grant.
• Supplanting is prohibited. "Supplanting" is defined as the "Use of Federal funds to support personnel or an activity that is already supported (paid for) by any other funds".
• Proposals selected will be reimbursed for mutually agreed grant expenses.
• Awarded grants are contingent upon the availability of funds.

Timeline

• Grant applications are due by Jan. 14, 2024 at 11:55 pm Eastern
• Grants will be awarded beginning in Spring 2024.
• Grant work will have expected completion date of on or before one year after the date of the award.

Reporting

• Proposals selected will be required to submit monthly reports and documentation showing objectives that have been met.
• Documentation will show objectives that have been met, time spent, and expenses incurred for grant activity.
• Grantees will submit monthly invoices for reimbursement using guidelines set out by Road to Zero and the National Safety Council.
• Grantees will be expected to have quarterly meetings with Road to Zero staff.
• Grantees will be expected to submit a final report detailing the project and lessons learned.
• Grantees will be expected to participate in promotional activities for the grant program and the funded projects including presenting on webinars and other meetings.
• These grants are subject to the Federal funding requirements under CFDA #20.614.

Review Committee

• All submissions will undergo a technical review by National Safety Council staff, and will then be forwarded to an external Review Selection Committee for consideration.
• Committee members will include individuals such as business leaders, safety advocates, researchers, etc.
• Individuals and/or organizations applying for grants will not be eligible to serve on the Review Selection Committee.
• Final evaluation of the grant application will be composed of evaluation and scoring by the Review Selection Committee and National Safety Council staff.

Award Information

• $750,000 dollars will be disbursed per year (subject to NHTSA funding disbursement), and the requested amounts must be between $50,000 and $200,000.

Grant applications are due by 11:55 pm (Eastern time) Jan. 14, 2024. If you have questions email us at [email protected]. National Safety Council and Road to Zero Coalition staff cannot comment or provide guidance on the strength or compatibility of a proposed project.