TEA-21 State Highway Safety Programs

Section 411 Data Improvement Incentive Grants


History and Administration

Section 411, the State Highway Data Improvement Incentive Grant Program was authorized under the Transportation Efficiency Act of the 21st Century (TEA-21). It is administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at the federal level and the State Highway Safety Offices (SHSO) at the state level.

Purpose

The program provides states with incentives to: adopt effective programs which improve the timeliness, accuracy, completeness, uniformity and accessibility of state data; evaluate the effectiveness of these improvements; link state data systems and improve the compatibility of state and national safety data.

Requirements

A state has three options for qualifying for a grant:

  1. For an initiation grant, states must establish a coordinating committee, perform an assessment within the last five years and begin developing a strategic plan. A qualifying state will receive $125,000 for one year only.
  2. For an implementation grant, states must establish a coordinating committee, perform an assessment within the last five years, have a strategic plan and begin implementing it. A qualifying state will receive up to $250,000 per year for no more than six years.
  3. States that do not qualify for initiation or implementation grants may receive a one year grant of $25,000.

In second and subsequent years, state must submit a plan, certify that the coordinating committee supports the plan and report on annual progress.

All grants are subject to the availability of funds and can be reduced proportionately if insufficient funds are available. The federal matching share is 75%, declining to 25% by the fifth and sixth years. Unobligated Section 411 funds may be transferred to the Section 405 or Section 410 programs to ensure that states receive the maximum amount to which they are entitled under those programs.

Funds may only be used for traffic records purposes.

Funding

Current and Previous Fiscal Year Funding Levels >>