Highway Safety Grant

The FFY 2027 Highway Safety Grant Application is administered by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (ADOT&PF) through its Highway Safety Office (HSO). This grant program is part of the federally funded National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Highway Safety Grant Program. It seeks to address critical traffic safety priorities across the state of Alaska, with a wide-ranging focus that includes impaired driving, police traffic services, speeding and aggressive driving, roadway safety, occupant protection, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and more. The program is structured to foster innovative and evidence-based interventions that can reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities on Alaska’s roadways. Eligible applicants for this funding include a variety of public and tribal entities such as federally recognized tribes, urban Indian organizations, political subdivisions of the state, local government agencies, state colleges and universities, school districts, fire departments, and public emergency service providers. Certain nonprofit organizations may also qualify, but they are required to submit a "Certificate of Status" from the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development to validate their not-for-profit status. These nonprofits must also provide documentation such as an Alaska Business License and demonstrate financial segregation of grant funds. Funding is intended as seed money to establish new programs, expand existing efforts, or develop new interventions. It is not intended to replace existing programs or to fund ongoing operational costs. The grants are awarded annually and aligned with the federal fiscal year, from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. While the initial award is for one year, projects demonstrating effectiveness may be renewed for up to three years, and certain projects deemed to have statewide benefit may be extended further at the discretion of the HSO. All applicants are encouraged to provide a minimum of 20% in local hard dollar match to promote sustainability; exceptions require justification. The application evaluation process is competitive and focuses on whether the proposed project addresses a demonstrated traffic safety need supported by crash data and other relevant metrics. Applications must articulate clear goals and objectives that align with the Alaska Strategic Highway Safety Plan and must outline specific performance measures. If the applicant has previously received funding from the HSO, their performance history—including timely submission of reports and adherence to deliverables—will also be considered in the review. A variety of eligible activities and expense categories are outlined. For example, under Impaired Driving, eligible costs might include DUI checkpoint equipment, public awareness campaigns, or in-car video systems. Speed control projects may request radar trailers and enforcement vehicles, while child passenger safety programs may request educational supplies and car seats, provided they include a qualified technician and sustainability measures such as fee collection. Equipment and indirect costs must comply with the Buy America Act and federal regulations, and promotional items are no longer eligible. Applicants must submit a complete grant application no longer than 15 pages, including a signed cover letter from the agency head, all supporting documentation, and a comprehensive budget. Applications are due by April 30, 2026, and may be emailed or mailed to the Highway Safety Office in Fairbanks, Alaska. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Award notifications will be made in September 2026. Submissions must clearly present problem statements, proposed solutions, data analysis, objectives, evaluation plans, and budgets. Failure to include required documents or to follow format instructions will render applications ineligible for funding.

Submit one application per project; include a match or provide explanation; use certified staff for child safety seat grants; include supporting crash data for problem justification.