Tribal Transportation Safety Strategy Pilot Program
🏛 69A355 Research and Technology
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for university-led consortiums partnering with federally recognized Tribal nations to advance traffic safety. Applicants must establish collaborative partnerships with at least one Tribal community and demonstrate capacity to conduct transportation research and infrastructure work. The program supports development of safety strategies, AI-driven risk analysis, and physical safety demonstrations. Project activities span three years and require cost-sharing commitment from applicants.
Eligible recipients typically include institutions with research capacity, Tribal organizations, and transportation safety experts. Partnerships between universities and Tribal governments are central to the grant's design. Geographic scope includes all federally recognized Tribal lands and communities nationwide. This is a competitive, merit-based opportunity requiring demonstrated commitment to addressing traffic fatalities in AIAN populations.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Key dates
- Jun 30, 2026 Applications open
- Aug 28, 2026 Application deadline in 42 days
- Nov 2, 2026 Project start
Program description
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) will open a competitive $2 million Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Tribal Transportation Safety Strategy Pilot Program. This three-year initiative will establish a university-led consortium to address the disproportionately high rate of traffic fatalities among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations. The project will develop a next-generation strategic safety plan, leverage artificial intelligence for risk-based analysis, and culminate in a pilot program that constructs a low-cost but impactful safety infrastructure demonstration in at least one federally recognized Tribal community
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Standard Federal application forms (SF-424 series)
- Project Narrative and Strategic Plan
- Budget Narrative and Cost-Sharing Documentation
- Letters of Commitment from Tribal partners
- Organizational capacity and qualifications documentation
- Timeline and implementation plan
- Letters of support from consortium members
Program contact
- 👤 Kelley Severns Project Manager
- 📧 kelley.severns@dot.gov
- 📞 202-934-2655
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 20.909 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$249,500
Top States by Funding
- CA 1 awards $0.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 20.909). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2026 est. | $5,100,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
University-led consortiums with partnerships to at least one federally recognized Tribal community. Applicants must demonstrate research capacity and commitment to Tribal collaboration.
What are the eligible activities?
Development of strategic safety plans, AI-powered risk analysis, pilot safety infrastructure projects, and data-driven interventions addressing traffic fatalities.
What is the funding amount and timeline?
Total program funding is $2 million distributed across three-year projects. Specific award ranges per project are not specified in the notice.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes, applicants must provide cost-sharing. The required percentage or match amount is not specified in the available information.
When is the deadline?
August 28, 2026. This is a fixed deadline with no rolling acceptance periods indicated.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize genuine partnership with Tribal governments in your narrative. Show Tribal leadership involvement, not just participation.
- Include letters of commitment from Tribal partners demonstrating mutual project ownership and decision-making authority.
- Propose concrete, measurable safety outcomes tied directly to reducing traffic fatalities in AIAN communities.
- Describe your AI/technology approach in accessible terms, explaining how data insights translate to infrastructure decisions.
- Detail your cost-sharing plan clearly, including contributions from universities, Tribal partners, and other sources.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Underestimating genuine Tribal partnership requirements and treating Tribal communities as project sites rather than co-investigators. Proposing vague, high-level safety concepts without concrete pilot infrastructure plans or realistic budget details. Failing to demonstrate specific expertise in both transportation safety research and Tribal consultation.
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