If you’re like most traffic professionals, you know of a few traffic hazards on your roadways that need remediation — and your community is relying on you to find the best solution. The only problem is, how do you pay for it?
Agencies across the nation are successfully acquiring federal and state grant dollars for unplanned safety enhancement projects through careful budgeting, grant research and proposal creation.
Here are four steps to follow when applying for traffic safety grants to ensure a lack of budgeted funds doesn’t prevent you from making your community safer.
1. Create a Budget
After identifying a traffic safety issue and the appropriate solution to remedy it, your first step to secure grant funding is to put together a project budget. Speak with industry professionals and reference previous projects to estimate the project’s entire cost. Organize this information into a thorough budget that includes any associated costs you can think of.
This step helps you get a clear picture of the scope of your project. Including accurate project costs goes a long way when you apply for grant funding. All too often, a grant application is passed over because the project’s budget isn’t comprehensive enough.
This budget should include preventative maintenance to optimize traffic safety system performance and lifespan.
2. Research Available Grants
Now that you have an idea of how much your project will cost, you should start researching grants. Your state's Department of Transportation is a great place to look for available grant money. If you're lucky, there might even be a grant coordinator on staff to help you through this process.
Here are some useful resources to search for available grants:
Once you find the grant you wish to apply for, make sure you read the entire Request for Proposal (RFP), which will include important application requirements and submission deadlines.
3. Create and Review
Tell your story, and use data to back it up. Gather statistics and other evidence that proves why your community needs this traffic safety enhancement. Was there a recent accident or a few too many close calls? Whatever the case, communicate how your safety issue needs to be promptly addressed to prevent this from happening again.
Be sure to communicate the effectiveness of your planned safety enhancement and what may happen if you aren't awarded the grant money. This creates a sense of urgency and will set you apart from other applicants.
4. Submit... Then Wait
Before you hit that send button, review your application. Hire a professional grant writer to proof your application or, at the very least, have a coworker read through it. Simple errors can be the downfall of any well-constructed grant application, so take the time to make sure your application has the best chance of approval.
You should learn soon after submitting your application if your proposal has been accepted, but you will wait three to six months on average before you receive the money.
Most grants come with specific post-award management instructions to follow, so utilize the downtime to completely design your project. Failing to comply with the instructions could negatively affect your ability to receive future grants.
Traffic safety is all about prevention. At TAPCO, we have the expertise to help you choose the right solution for your grant application.
Robert Prosser
TAPCO | Vice President of Sales & Marketing
With a career spanning over two decades, Rob has served in various product development, sales and leadership positions and has leveraged those experiences to lead TAPCO through major product launches aimed at enhancing roadway safety.
Rob is especially passionate about TAPCO's unique convergence of technology and market applications and is excited to continue bringing essential traffic safety solutions to communities nationwide.