Traffic Safety Grants

The Idaho Office of Highway Safety (OHS), a division of the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), administers an annual grant program focused on behavior-related traffic safety initiatives throughout the state. The program is supported with federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and is designed to provide “seed funding” for projects that enhance traffic safety and address persistent behavioral issues on Idaho roadways. Through this initiative, OHS seeks to eliminate traffic deaths, reduce serious injuries, and mitigate related economic losses by funding enforcement and educational projects aligned with specific traffic safety focus areas. Eligible focus areas for grant-funded activities include Impaired Driving, Aggressive Driving, Distracted Driving, Occupant Protection, Child Passenger Safety, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety, Motorcycle Safety, Youthful Drivers, Roadside Safety, Emergency Medical Services, and improvements to Traffic Records. The grant funding may support new initiatives, expansion of existing efforts, or interventions that address identified traffic safety deficiencies. Allowable activities include overtime and regular-duty enforcement, education and outreach campaigns, public awareness programs, data collection improvements, and training. However, these grants cannot be used for infrastructure improvements such as crosswalk markings, safety barriers, or road construction. In addition, grant funds cannot supplant normal agency operations, and routine law enforcement activities are not eligible for reimbursement. The FY27 application process is specifically for year-long enforcement and education grants and differs from Idaho’s mini-grant program for mobilizations. The funding is administered on a federal fiscal year schedule, running from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. Applicants must submit complete proposals by February 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. MST. The grant timeline outlines a multi-stage review process: applications will be scored in March 2026, with tentative award notifications by July, contingent upon approval of the Highway Safety Plan by the ITD Board in June and by NHTSA in August. Conditional award letters will be issued in September, followed by final grant agreements and notice to proceed in October 2026. Grant proposals must include a detailed project narrative, budget justification, financial risk assessment form, and, when available, letters of community support. Agencies are asked to outline their goals, document the specific traffic safety problem using relevant data, and explain how they will measure success. The final project evaluation must include quarterly reporting and a final claim no later than October 15, 2027. Matching contributions of at least 25% are required, which may include in-kind support such as staff time or local mileage. Government agencies (state, city, or county), school districts, public universities, and qualified nonprofit organizations (with valid 501(c)(3) status) are eligible to apply. Businesses are also eligible, provided the proposed project meets NHTSA funding and reporting requirements. Subrecipients must be registered in SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Specific grant contacts are assigned for different focus areas, including enforcement, youth education, and data systems. The Office of Highway Safety emphasizes a data-driven approach in evaluating applications. High-priority consideration will be given to projects from regions with fatal and serious injury crash rates exceeding the group population average. The program prioritizes sustainability, expecting funded programs to transition to local or state funding once grant support ends. The FY27 grant cycle represents the final year of eligibility for the three-year Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grants, with a sliding scale of federal support (75% in year one, 50% in year two, and 25% in year three). The agency encourages innovative, evidence-based approaches to reducing traffic-related harm in Idaho communities.

Provide strong crash data to support your traffic safety problem. Focus on sustainability and outline realistic, measurable goals.