Improving road safety: From crash data analysis to redesigning streets
April 17, 2026
How municipalities, counties, MPOs, and public universities can unlock federal funds for safer streets
After years of sharp increases,?there were fewer?US traffic?fatalities?in 2025¡ª, with several cities reporting some of their safest years on record. Still, people walking and biking remain disproportionately at risk, and overall fatalities?remain?higher than?pre-pandemic?levels.
In many communities, the next challenge?isn¡¯t?identifying?road safety as a?priority¡ªit¡¯s?securing the funding and coordination needed to implement safety improvements and?maintain?momentum.?
Federal funding is now open to cities, counties and MPOs?through??from the U.S. Department of Transportation.?Nearly?US$1 billion was awarded to 2025 applicants with another $993 million available in 2026.?No?additional?funding is planned after 2026¡ªrequiring immediate action by cities looking to take advantage of this program.?
Those?looking to?take advantage of federal funding and?kick-start their own road safety plan should be?considering:
- How to make?a?grant application successful
- How?to?best?leverage?federal funding for?each?community
- Prioritizing the right data?for?road?safety analysis
- How to effectively?leverage?funds once a grant is successful
Our?transportation safety team?supports communities through every stage of safety action planning¡ªand can comment on?analysis and prioritization to implementation and funding alignment.?Sometimes the answers are surprising when it comes to road safety, but?with?the right?funding?resources,?data, and design solutions,?real progress can be made.?
Read more about?the?key considerations to help improve?an?SS4A safety action plan.