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Safety Navigator for California Communities

Federal Transportation Grant Assistance for Local Agencies, Tribes, and Transportation Partners

Safety Navigator for California Communities (SNCC) is a Caltrans-funded initiative designed to help California local agencies, Tribes, and transportation partners successfully pursue federal transportation discretionary grants. Administered in coordination with Caltrans’ Division of Local Assistance, the program provides statewide training, technical assistance, and information-sharing focused on programs such as BUILD (formerly RAISE/TIGER) and other U.S. Department of Transportation funding opportunities.
 
The program emphasizes practical, NOFO-aligned guidance and prioritizes support for small, rural, Tribal, and historically underserved communities. By strengthening grant readiness and application quality, this effort supports Caltrans’ broader goal of improving access to federal transportation funding and advancing safe, resilient, and equitable transportation investments across California.

Statewide Training and Web Conferences

This site provides access to curated resources to support federal grant development and application preparation. Resources are selected to help agencies efficiently navigate complex federal requirements.

Available resources may include:

  • Federal discretionary grant program summaries
  • NOFO highlights and key changes
  • Application checklists and planning timelines
  • Webinar recordings and presentation materials
  • Links to federal guidance, tools, and data sources

Resources are updated regularly to reflect current funding opportunities and program guidance.

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY!

USDOT has released the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, making almost $1B available for projects that reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries.

Funding is available for two grant types:
• Planning & Demonstration Grants to develop or update an Action Plan or test concepts that inform one.
• Implementation Grants to advance strategies and projects aligned with an existing Action Plan.

Applications are due May 26, 2026 – please reach out to SNCC for 1:1 support and register HERE for SNCC’s  upcoming webinar on SS4A applications — learn more below!

April Webinar Registration!

Monday, April 13th, 2026 at 9:00 am Pacific

Preparing 2026 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program Application

The Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program provides funding to help communities reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries. This webinar will cover the basics of the program, including eligibility, funding types, and what makes a strong application.
 
With a focus on tribal and local communities, speakers will share practical strategies for identifying safety priorities, developing competitive applications, and moving from planning to implementation. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to use SS4A funding to advance safer, community-driven transportation projects.
 
Register below for this opportunity coming up on Monday, April 13th!
SS4A Webinar Registration!

ICYMI: Past Events

On March 17th, 2026, SNCC hosted a webinar featuring expert panelists from city, state, and private-sector organizations who have implemented quick-build projects on real streets. Panelists will shared practical insights on when and why to use quick-build approaches, how to move from concept to installation quickly, lessons learned from implementation, and strategies for community engagement and stakeholder buy-in.

 

Please reach out to safety-navigator@calpoly.edu with any questions you may have and please subscribe to receive news of all trainings and support!

On February 4th, 2026, SNCC hosted California agencies and Tribes preparing FY 2026 BUILD applications to help strengthen submissions in the final weeks before the February 24th, 2026 deadline.  Check out the webinar recording on YouTube or by clicking the link to the left.

Please reach out to safety-navigator@calpoly.edu with any questions you may have and please subscribe to receive news of all trainings and support!

Technical Assistance and Connection

The program team welcomes questions, feedback, and requests for support. While individualized project reviews by USDOT are not permitted, this program provides general guidance and technical assistance consistent with federal requirements.

Through this site, agencies can:

safety-navigator@calpoly.edu

Anurag Pande, Ph.D.

Program Director

Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Cal Poly State University

San Luis Obispo

Debra Hood

Program Coordinator

Cal Poly Civil/Environmental Engineering Department

Email: dlhood@calpoly.edu