Road to Zero: Pop-Up Safety Demonstrations Mini-Grant Program

The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) has introduced the 2025/26 Pop-Up Safety Demonstration Mini-Grant Program, a new initiative under its broader Road to Zero campaign. This regional effort aims to reduce serious traffic injuries and fatalities in the San Luis Obispo region, where approximately 800 roadway crashes occur annually, leading to an estimated 30 deaths and 160 serious injuries. The Road to Zero campaign, guided by the 2025 Regional Road Safety Action Plan, sets an ambitious goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities by 2050 through targeted investments, education, and community-based initiatives. The Pop-Up Demonstration Mini-Grant Program is funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with supplemental assistance from SLOCOG’s Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP). This specific mini-grant opportunity is intended to support community-focused, short-term safety demonstration projects designed to increase awareness and test street safety improvements in real-world settings. Projects funded under this initiative will deploy temporary safety interventions—such as curb extensions, daylighting, protected bike lanes, and enhanced crosswalks—to evaluate their effectiveness and collect data that can inform future infrastructure improvements and grant applications for long-term funding sources such as HSIP, ATP, and SB-1. Eligible applicants for the mini-grant include local cities and the county, school districts, 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations with a fiscal sponsor, and youth, mobility, or environmental advocacy groups. Consultants may only participate as vendors and are not eligible to apply as lead applicants. Each selected project must include temporary implementation lasting from one to seven days, community outreach such as surveys or chalkboard feedback stations, and compliance with branding and reporting requirements. Up to six projects are expected to be funded, with individual awards reimbursing up to $6,000 in eligible costs. All materials used must be temporary and conform to the California OTS funding rules. Application materials include an online application form, a budget worksheet, proof of insurance, a jurisdictional letter of support (from a public works or engineering office), and a visual concept or location photo. Proposals addressing high-injury locations, school zones, transit areas, or underserved communities are especially encouraged. The application deadline is March 25, 2026 at 5 PM, with projects to be implemented between May and July 2026. Grantees will be notified in early April and expected to participate in a kickoff meeting on April 9. Final reports and reimbursement requests are due by August 15, 2026, and the overall grant will close on September 30, 2026. Proposals will be evaluated based on multiple weighted criteria, including safety need (50%), community benefit and equity (25%), jurisdiction support and readiness (20%), education and evaluation (15%), and alignment with future funding goals (such as ATP Cycle 8). The program is structured to help local organizations prepare for more competitive funding and permanent safety interventions by piloting improvements in a low-cost, temporary format. Further information, guidelines, and forms are available via SLOCOG’s Road to Zero website or by contacting the program administrator, John DiNunzio, at [email protected].

Target high-injury areas; prioritize underserved communities; ensure early outreach and encroachment approval.