Behavioral Highway Safety Grants

The PennDOT Behavioral Highway Safety Grants program, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), is a federally funded initiative designed to enhance roadway safety throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These grants support evidence-based strategies to reduce traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. The program is structured in alignment with the federal fiscal year, running from October 1 to September 30, and is funded under 23 U.S.C. 402 and 405 through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The grants are offered to local governments, Pennsylvania state-related and State System of Higher Education universities, and nonprofit organizations that meet specific eligibility and operational criteria. The funding supports a variety of projects, including education and outreach on impaired and distracted driving, occupant protection, community traffic safety, child passenger safety, DUI court systems, and data-driven traffic enforcement efforts. Many projects operate at a statewide or local level to target traffic safety priorities identified through crash data analysis. The annual application period is open from April 1 to May 31, with project evaluations running through June 30 and final approvals issued between July 1 and September 30. Approved grant terms begin on October 1 and run through the end of the federal fiscal year. Applicants must register and submit proposals through the eGrants system. Each proposal must meet minimum qualifications, including the ability to deliver services promptly, use funds efficiently, collaborate with community partners, and develop data-informed strategies with measurable outcomes. Eligible applicants are required to have certain administrative capacities, such as a Certification of Responsibility Determination, a UEI and SAP partner number, and designated personnel authorized to manage contracts with PennDOT. Additional documentation includes a Lobbying Certification Form (if applicable), and a legal agreement for accessing restricted data portals. All applications must use PennDOT’s eGrants system and, if awarded, applicants must maintain periodic contact with PennDOT program managers and regional planning teams throughout the grant term. The grant is cost-reimbursement-based, meaning recipients must cover initial costs and then submit claims for reimbursement, accompanied by appropriate documentation, such as receipts and invoices. Most purchases over $500 require PennDOT approval. Funds may be used for program implementation, training, public education campaigns, materials, and related travel. However, funds cannot be used for construction, furniture, or entertainment, and may not be used to supplant existing expenditures. Each grant opportunity is overseen by a designated program manager. For example, Christy Timbrell manages outreach programs, including Child Passenger Safety and Distracted Driving Outreach, while Scott Kubisiak oversees enforcement-focused programs like DUI Courts and Law Enforcement Liaison Coordination. For general inquiries, Troy Love serves as the Program Services Unit Manager. Proposals are evaluated based on problem statements, strategic alignment, program activities, outcomes measurement, applicant qualifications, past performance, and budget quality.

Proposals should include evidence-based countermeasures or strong evaluation plans for novel approaches; applicants should maintain contact with PennDOT program managers and follow documentation rules for all purchases.