Tribal Transportation Safety Strategy Pilot Program

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, under the Department of Transportation, is preparing to issue a $2 million funding opportunity for a three-year pilot program aimed at reducing traffic fatalities among American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This initiative will establish a university-led consortium tasked with creating a next-generation transportation safety strategy tailored to the unique needs of these populations. The program will employ artificial intelligence to conduct risk-based analysis, identifying critical safety vulnerabilities and enabling data-driven interventions to address the disproportionately high rates of traffic-related deaths in Tribal areas. The project’s ultimate goal is to implement a low-cost, high-impact safety infrastructure demonstration in at least one federally recognized Tribal community, serving as a replicable model for broader adoption. The initiative is open to competitive applications and is anticipated to launch with a forecast release date of June 24, 2026. All relevant communications and inquiries should be directed to Kelley Severns, Project Manager, at the provided contact information. While no specific set-aside or NAICS code is listed, the program is designed to prioritize solutions developed in partnership with Tribal communities and academic institutions working collaboratively to advance transportation safety equity.