Newsletter

Supporting Transportation Planning and Funding Access in Central Texas

Welcome to the inaugural issue of CAPCOG’s Moving Central Texas Newsletter. This monthly publication provides clear, reliable updates on transportation funding opportunities for jurisdictions within the TxDOT Austin District. As of April 2025, grant options are limited. However, one significant opportunity—the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program—is currently available and merits consideration. Below, we outline the details and assess its relevance for your jurisdiction.

Featured Funding Opportunity: Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)

Application Deadline: June 26, 2025
Program Details: www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released the FY25 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the SS4A program, allocating over $982 million to reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Two grant types are offered, each with distinct purposes and requirements. Below is an overview to help determine if this funding aligns with your needs.

Planning and Demonstration Grants

Purpose: Develop or update a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, conduct supplemental safety planning, or implement demonstration projects to address roadway safety issues.
Funding Range: $100,000 to $5,000,000
Eligible Applicants: Counties, cities, federally recognized Tribal governments, or multijurisdictional groups (e.g., CAPCOG member entities).
Priority Applicants: Rural areas and underserved communities, including Areas of Persistent Poverty, with identified safety concerns but no existing Action Plan.
Requirements: 20% match (in-kind contributions permitted); no shovel-ready project or pre-engineering required. Application preparation is estimated at 50 staff hours.
Relevance: This grant suits all non-CAMPO juridstctions within our region - Blanco, Lee, Llano, and Fayette counties, and cities within. All have above average incidences of fatal crashes; this grant can fund the creation of a structured safety plan to address crashes and prepare for future funding. It offers flexibility and a practical starting point. However, CAPCOG is applying for a regional plan on behalf of all of these counties, so an application from such juridstctions is not neccescary.

Implementation Grants

Purpose: Execute projects or strategies from an existing Action Plan, with optional supplemental planning or demonstration activities.
Funding Range: $2,500,000 to $25,000,000
Eligible Applicants: Same as above—counties, cities, Tribal governments, or groups - as long as you are covered by a recent Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. All juridstctions within CAMPO are thus eligible.
Priority Applicants: Rural jurisdictions, high crash rates, and projects ready for construction.
Requirements: 20% match (in-kind allowed); projects must be shovel-ready with pre-engineering completed. Application preparation requires approximately 75 staff hours.
Relevance: This offers substantial funding but requires an Action Plan and ready-to-launch projects. Without that preparation, it’s not a viable option at this stage.

Current Grant Landscape

Transportation funding opportunities are scarce as of April 2025. Beyond SS4A, no other programs align with the immediate needs or timelines of Central Texas jurisdictions. This scarcity highlights the importance of evaluating SS4A carefully—it’s the primary option available until additional opportunities arise. CAPCOG will monitor and report on developments in future issues.

Application Guidance

To enhance your SS4A application, focus on data-driven need. Use TxDOT crash statistics to identify problem areas, supported by specific examples (e.g., “In 2024, three fatalities occurred on a two-mile stretch of County Road 15”). Concise, evidence-based narratives increase competitiveness. For assistance, contact Simon Fichter at sfichter@capcog.org.

Regional Examples

Central Texas communities have already begun leveraging Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funding to plan and implement life-saving improvements. Recent federal awards include:

• City of Austin — $10.5 million (FY 2024 Implementation Grant) to deliver on-the-ground safety interventions across the city’s Vision Zero High-Injury Network.
• Concho Valley Council of Governments — $1 million (FY 2024 Planning & Demonstration Grant) to develop regional strategies for rural road safety.
• Town of Rogers — $124,000 (FY 2024 Planning & Demonstration Grant) to assess local crash trends and design targeted low-cost countermeasures.
• Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) — $2.32 million (FY 2022 Action Plan Grant) to establish a regional safety plan for the Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown area.

Upcoming Milestones

USDOT Webinars: Three informational sessions on SS4A were held in April 2025 — visit transportation.gov/grants/SS4A/webinars for recordings.
May Newsletter: Updates on SS4A progress and any new funding opportunities.
Grant Finder Tool: CAPCOG’s searchable grant finder has launched, offering tailored information for Central Texas governments.

Contact: Simon Fichter, Transportation Planner, sfichter@capcog.org