DOT’s Elaine Chao Announces $8.9 Million in Grants for Tribal Nations
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Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao recently announced that $8.9 million in grant funding will be dedicated to improving highway safety in tribal lands.
Specifically, the money will support 91 projects across 80 federally recognized American Indian tribal nations. Chao announced the funding Feb. 11 at the National Congress of American Indians.
“These federal funds will go to American Indian tribes to improve traffic safety and improve the quality of life for tribal communities,” Chao said.
Today @NCAI1944's Executive Council Winter Session, @SecElaineChao announced $8.9 million in grants to American Indian Tribes to improve traffic safety and improve the quality of life for tribal communities. Read more here: https://t.co/G9JoiJ0hyC #ECWS2020 pic.twitter.com/Mv1dUk6kdI — TransportationGov (@USDOT) February 11, 2020
About 60 tribes will receive funding to help in the development or update of a transportation safety plan. In Nevada, funding will help two tribal nations develop their first such plan. FHWA recommends the development of transportation safety plans as a way for tribes to determine how needs will be addressed in their communities. The plans are supposed to consider all relevant travel modes, such as roads, trails, marine waterways and air.
Some 23 tribal nations in Alaska will receive funding to conduct road safety audits at four high-crash locations.
Four tribal nations in Wisconsin will receive grant money for a pedestrian trail. In Washington, funding dispersed across seven nations will support a roundabout project.
Ten tribal nations in California are projected to get funding for a crash-data management system.
The funds will come from the Federal Highway Administration’s Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds. Awarded annually, the money is made available through a competitive discretionary program. Federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply for the funds. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, 573 tribal entities are recognized and eligible for funding and services.
Projects are chosen on whether their outcomes will prevent or reduce death or serious injury in traffic-related incidents.
“From safety planning to sidewalks and road repairs, these funds will play an important role in enhancing the safety and accessibility of transportation infrastructure on tribal roads,” Federal Highway Administrator Nicole Nason said.
2019-21464 by Transport Topics on Scribd
This past fall, the Department of Transportation issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to create a Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program. The program would give participating tribes more authority over the DOT funding that they are eligible to receive.
The purpose of the proposed program is to smooth cooperation between DOT and tribal governments and facilitate tribal control over the delivery of transportation activities. The program would authorize tribes to plan, redesign and administer transportation projects to meet the needs of their communities.
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