The Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant (SS4A) was established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL provides $5 billion in funding for the grant over a five-year period. Over $1 billion is available for fiscal year 2023. The goal of the program is to fund planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets for all users. This includes pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation, personal conveyance, micromobility users, motorists and commercial vehicle operators.
The program includes two types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants and Implementation Grants. Planning and Demonstration Grants are used to develop or supplement a comprehensive safety action plan and to carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of an Action Plan. Implementation grants are used to fund projects that are consistent with an existing Action Plan.
The SS4A grant is an excellent opportunity to fund pedestrian, bike, transit, and auto-oriented transportation infrastructure improvements.
Eligible applicants
Any of the following entities are considered eligible applicants:
Eligible project examples
Planning and demonstration grants-action plan required components:
Implementation Grant Examples
Submission Deadline
Due July 10, 2023 at 5:00PM EST via the new Valid Eval grant portal. Applicants are strongly encouraged to make submissions in advance of the deadline.
Timing of Projects
DOT expects to obligate funds within 12 months after awards have been announced. All SS4A funds must be expended within five years after the grant agreement is executed and DOT obligates the funds.
Funding Availability
The SS4A program has an appropriation of $1 billion for FY23. An additional $177 million in carryover funds from the FY22 application cycle is set aside for Planning and Demonstration Grants.
Award Size
Planning and Demonstration Grants have an expected minimum amount of $100,000 and an expected maximum of $10,000,000. The expected award maximum would likely only be available for metropolitan planning organizations and multijurisdictional applicants applying as a group.
Implementation Grants have an expected minimum amount of $2,500,000 and an expected maximum of $25,000,000. The expected award maximum increases to $50,000,000 for metropolitan planning organizations and multijurisdictional applicants applying as a group. Rural areas with a population of 200,000 or fewer will have a minimum award size of $3,000,000.
Funding Match
SS4A grants require a minimum 20% local match. In-kind contributions may be included as part of the local match.
Reimbursement
SS4A is a reimbursement-based program; applicants do not receive a lump sum. Applicants should plan for local financing to cover costs while awaiting reimbursement.
Initial Consultation
If you are interested in pursuing a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant, the first step is to schedule an initial consultation with the Baker Tilly economic development team. This meeting will include a review of your community’s eligibility and an evaluation of potential projects to determine if your projects are competitive.
Engagement and Application Development
Once the initial consultation is complete and a project has been identified, Baker Tilly can begin work immediately with developing a highly competitive grant application. Our team will work with your team to develop a submission timeline, collected required documentation and will utilize a range of data sources to craft a compelling grant narrative to highlight the benefits of your project. For more information on how to take the first step, please contact us!