Kansas Department Of Transportation
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The Behavioral Safety Section of KDOT is the state's highway safety office and receives National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grant funds to use for education, enforcement and emergency response efforts across the state.
The KDOT Behavioral Safety Grant Application has closed, for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 (October 1, 2026, to September 30, 2027). Law enforcement may apply for the STEP Grant Application and remaining high visibility enforcement efforts.
Prepare for the Grant Application
All grant applicants must conduct problem identification to demonstrate the need for traffic safety funds in their communities.
Problem Identification Resources
Learn about your local data in areas including law enforcement citations, community health needs assessments, and community health improvement plans by visiting the following links:
- Drive to Zero Data Dashboard
- Kansas Observational Seat Belt Use Survey, 2025
- Conduct a FARS data query
- National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- Kansas Communities That Care Survey (for youth and young adults)
- Vulnerable Road User Assessment Tool
Countermeasures
Funds can be used for a variety of education and communication campaigns, high visibility enforcement efforts and other non-infrastructure safety countermeasures. Use the following resources to identify evidence-based countermeasures to inform your project proposal:
- NHTSA’s Countermeasures That Work (link: https://www.nhtsa.gov/book/countermeasures/countermeasures-that-work)
- NHTSA Behavioral Safety Research (link: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/cbrowse?parentId=dot%3A242&terms=)
- Transportation Research Board’s Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program (link: https://www.trb.org/BTSCRP/BTSCRP.aspx)
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (link: https://aaafoundation.org/)
- KDOT’s Bureau of Research (link: https://www.ksdot.gov/about/our-organization/divisions/project-delivery/research)
- Governors Highway Safety Association Federal Research Projects (link: https://www.ghsa.org/resource-type/federal-research-projects)
Performance Targets
All proposed projects should identify at least one performance target defined in the Triennial Highway Safety Plan.
Eligible Organizations
Local and state governmental units, law enforcement agencies, schools and universities, public health agencies, community coalitions, first responder agencies and nonprofit organizations may apply for grant funds.
Please note: All costs must be incurred by the subrecipient first, prior to reimbursement. Reimbursement of allowable expenditures is made upon receipt of a complete monthly reimbursement claim made by the subrecipient. All subrecipients must adhere to NHTSA's certifications and assurances, the state of Kansas' terms and conditions, and maintain active information for federal fund reporting.
Eligible Uses of Funding
Funds are intended to supplement, not be a substitute for, ongoing state and local programming. Projects should be designed to solve a traffic safety problem in an applicant’s organization or community or to expand an existing program. Federal funds cannot be used to replace existing program or personnel funds. NHTSA funds also cannot be used for infrastructure or engineering solutions. Eligible equipment may be purchased when it supports proposed education and/or enforcement activities.
Funding is available in the following program areas: