KDOT is revamping the STEP program for the Federal Fiscal Year 2027 (starting October 1, 2026). All law enforcement agencies will be required to complete an online grant application form to indicate their intent to participate in STEP. The application will be open May 1 to June 30, 2026. Agencies are encouraged to reach out to their Law Enforcement Liaison with questions and/or to set up a meeting to discuss how they can participate in the revamped STEP program.
There will be two ways to participate in STEP:
- STEP: This is similar to Model 2, but with expanded campaign and funding opportunities.
- STEP Enhanced: This program encourages agencies to work traffic safety enforcements year-round to address local problems and has additionally funding opportunities.
- View the presentation
- Sign up for the May 7 Webinar
STEP
STEP will have 18 campaign mobilizations in FFY27- all of which are voluntary. Agencies can choose the campaigns that fit their needs and work best with their traffic safety goals. Each campaign has a driver behavior focus area, but all traffic safety laws should be enforced with each campaign. The goal of STEP remains to educate the community about traffic safety while averaging two public contacts per hour worked. All hours must be worked on overtime, and KDOT asks each agency for a minimum commitment of 40 overtime hours annually.
In addition to overtime enforcement hours, agencies may request grant funding within the STEP grant application for:
- Traffic safety equipment that supports their work in the STEP program. Equipment funding is capped at half of the enforcement budget and is subject to applicability and prior performance. View the eligible equipment list for additional details.
- Overtime education hours to provide community- and school-based education. Education funding is capped at $1,000 per agency. View the eligible education list for additional details.
- Travel-related expenses for law enforcement training. This funding is capped at $1,000 per agency. View the eligible training/travel list for additional details.
Additional information will be provided to agencies about documentation and reimbursement requirements after grants have been awarded.
STEP Enhanced
The STEP Enhanced program gives law enforcement agencies the opportunity to work overtime hours for traffic safety enforcement year-round. The goal of this program is to allow agencies to identify local problems and design enforcement strategies to address those problems. STEP Enhanced agencies may still participate in STEP campaigns but likely have enforcement needs beyond the scope of the designated campaigns.
The Impaired Driving Deterrence Program (IDDP) will no longer be offered, and IDDP agencies who wish to continue DUI check lanes and saturation patrols throughout the year should apply for STEP Enhanced grant funds to continue these activities.
Within the STEP Enhanced grant application, agencies will have the opportunity to apply for grant funding in the following categories:
- Enforcement: Overtime hours for law enforcement hours and for non-law enforcement hours such as phlebotomists and jailers for DUI check lane support as long as all personnel are paid by the agency
- Equipment: Traffic safety equipment that supports enforcement efforts. There is no cap on equipment requests, but all will be evaluated for applicability and prior performance. Refer to the eligible equipment list for details.
- Education: Overtime hours for law enforcement to provide community- and school-based education on traffic safety. No cap on education budget.
- Training: Travel expenses and/or training registration fees related to allowable traffic enforcement training activities. No cap on training budget.
- Media: Paid media accompanying high visibility enforcement efforts is considered a best practice and proven countermeasure to help educate the public on traffic safety initiatives. Agencies may apply for a paid media budget to use NHTSA, KDOT or independently developed assets to support high visibility enforcement campaigns defined in the STEP Enhanced grant application.
- Data Analysis/Evaluation: Conduct an assessment to determine effectiveness of enforcement, trends in citations or other data analysis or evaluation of traffic safety enforcement efforts.
Agencies interested in the STEP Enhanced option are encouraged to reach out to their LEL and/or KDOT staff at KDOT.BehavioralSafety@ks.gov for ideas and confirmation of allowable expenses and activities.