USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Safety
                        Roadway Departure Safety
                        Reduce Crash Severity


            
            In This Section
        Roadway Departure Safety
                Strategic Approach
                                Strategic Plan
                Crash Emphasis Brochures
                Focused Approach
                Noteworthy Practices
                Partner Resources
                Keep Vehicles on the Road
                                Pavement Friction
                Horizontal Curve Safety
                Rumble Strips and Rumble Stripes
                Nighttime Visibility
                Provide for a Safe Recovery
                                SafetyEdge
                Clear Zones
                Reduce Crash Severity
                                Overview
                Hardware Eligibility Letters
                Focus on Reducing Rural Roadway Departures (FoRRRwD)
                                Overview
                All Public Roads
                Proven Countermeasures
                Systemic Approach
                Safety Action Plans
                FoRRRwD Resources
                
                Federal-aid Reimbursement Eligibility Process
    

    
    
          Federal-aid eligibility letters written by FHWA are not required in order for a State DOT to install the device on any road and are not required for the State DOT to receive Federal-aid reimbursement for that device. FHWA issues these letters as a service to the State DOTs. If an interested party (submitter) wants a Federal-aid reimbursement eligibility letter from FHWA, then it must comply with the process described in the documents below:

Eligibility Process

An open letter to all in the highway safety hardware and roadside design community clarifying the process to obtain an eligibility letter for cable barrier systems – *02/09/21*
	An open letter to all in the highway safety hardware and roadside design community – *April 8, 2019*
	Eligibility of Crash Cushion devices (Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) 16 sunset date) – *12/20/2018* – This memorandum is to provide guidance to the FHWA Division Offices on the eligibility of National Cooperative Highway Research Program 350 (NCHRP 350) compliant crash cushions on the National Highway System (NHS) in the absence of an acceptable American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) MASH 16 compliant crash cushion
	Existing Roadside Safety Hardware Eligibility Letters Affected by May 26, 2017 Memorandum – This memo updates FHWA Division Offices on the FHWA implementation of process changes described in FHWA letter "An open letter to all in the highway safety hardware and roadside design community" dated May 26, 2017.
	Evaluating a State DOT's Process to Determine Roadside Safety Hardware Crashworthiness on the National Highway System (NHS) – April 9, 2018. This memo provides guidance to FHWA Division Offices to assist their evaluation that a State DOT has an acceptable process for determining crashworthiness of roadside safety hardware on the NHS
	An open letter to all in the highway safety hardware and roadside design community – May 26, 2017. This letter informs of important changes to the Federal-aid eligibility process.
	Federal-aid Reimbursement Eligibility Process for Safety Hardware Devices – November 12, 2015. This memo informs of important changes to the Federal-aid eligibility process
	An open letter to all in the highway safety hardware and roadside design community – November 12, 2015. This letter notifies of additional improvements in the process since the May 18 letter on this topic.
	An open letter to all in the highway safety hardware and roadside design community - May 18, 2015. This letter details FHWA's revised process for issuing Federal-aid eligibility letters for roadside safety hardware systems.
	In-service Performance Evaluation and Continuous Monitoring – November 17, 2005. The memorandum recommends that states monitor the performance of crashworthy roadside safety hardware to assess field performance, considering installation conditions and maintenance history among other factors, by referring to NCHRP Report 490" In Service Performance of Traffic Barriers"Request Form for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility of Safety Hardware Devices

Hardware Eligibility Request Forms (Please view using Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari)
	Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility of Safety Hardware Devices
		Request for Federal Aid Reimbursement Eligibility of Highway Flexible Barriers
              
      
    
          Last updated: Friday, April 8, 2022 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us