Small Scale Highway Safety Improvement Program Grant

The VTrans Small Scale Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Notice of Funding Opportunity is now open. Applications are due February 2, 2026, by 2 pm.

What This Program Funds

This program funds safety improvements on local roadways that cost $5,000 to $50,000. Local match is not required. Eligible items include: 

• Curve signage
• Intersection signage
• Edge line striping
• Stop bar and crosswalk pavement marking
• Rumble strips
• Replacement of damaged or deteriorated guardrail
• Removal of fixed objects
  • For boulders or ledge, partially removing the object to extend the clear zone is allowed
  • For any other object, including trees, only complete removal is eligible

A single grant can cover multiple project locations, subject to the $50,000 total cap. Project costs can exceed the $50,000 cap as long as the applicant has secured or provides other funding to cover those costs.

How Your Community Applies

The program webpage has a fillable PDF application that you upload to a VTrans FTP site. You must request a user account for the FTP site no later than four (4) business days before the application due date by sending an email to the VTrans Contract Administration contact. The grant Notice of Funding has specific instructions to request an account.

Make Your Community’s Application Competitive

• Be ready to go to construction in 2026 if awarded funding. This includes securing all necessary rights to construct the project.
• Review the Notice of Funding, make a list of all requirements, and include them in your budget and project schedule. Three examples include:
  • all projects awarded funding must designate a Municipal Project Manager (MPM); the designated person must be approved by VTrans. Specific duties for the MPM are described on pages 8 to 9 in the Notice of Funding.
  • the Notice of Funding requests specific actions for the Cost Proposal and for submitting and naming your documents (separate documents required; no merging into a single file). Satisfactory completion of the application is part of application scoring.
  • environmental review is required for funded projects.
• Check the Notice of Funding Opportunities webpage for VTrans-issued addenda.

Where You Can Learn More

Visit the program webpage at Notice of Funding Opportunities | Agency of Transportation.

Find Grant Writing or Grant/Project Management Help

VLCT published a resource, Increasing Municipal Capacity for Grants, that offers ideas for assistance with grants. Many of the capacity builders also provide project management services. Hiring experienced project management assistance can increase the speed of project development and help avoid cost, permitting, and other development surprises.