Highway Safety 

Improvement Program

Project Eligibility

The Focus is Results!

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a core Federal-aid program with the purpose of achieving a significant 

reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. Under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century 

Act (MAP-21), approximately seven percent of total Federal-aid highway funding is provided for HSIP, amounting to $2.2 billion 

each year. HSIP funds can be used on any public road or pathway, including those owned by local governments and Tribes. The 

objective is to target resources where they will be most effective—with a focus on performance.

Eligibility Criteria 

The HSIP includes the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), Railway-Highway Crossing Program, and the resulting program of 

highway safety improvement projects. Successful implementation of these principles will contribute to a reduction in fatalities and 

serious injuries consistent with the purpose of the HSIP and the new performance-based program requirements.

Highway safety improvement projects can be either infrastructure or noninfrastructure projects. Noninfrastructure projects include 

any project that does not result in construction (e.g., road safety audits, enforcement, data improvements). All highway safety 

improvement projects must meet the HSIP eligibility criteria described in the MAP-21 HSIP Interim Eligibility Guidance. Additional 

resources describing noninfrastructure project requirements is available here.

To ensure limited HSIP funds are used effectively and efficiently, following is some additional information on the criteria for selecting 

an eligible HSIP project, strategy, or activity: 

• Addresses a priority in the State’s SHSP. The State SHSP includes strategies and action steps not projects. If a State wants 

to fund a roundabout, for instance, there should be a corresponding priority in the SHSP for traffic-calming measures or 

intersection improvements. 

• Is identified through a data-driven process. Data driven 

simply means that the project was selected based on crash 

experience, crash rate, or other data-supported means 

using either a hot spot analysis or through the risk-based 

system approach. It is only through a comprehensive 

program that involves both of these approaches that 

States will achieve their highway safety goals.

• Targets an identified safety problem. The project or 

program must help solve the safety problem identified 

through the data-driven process. 

• Contributes to a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries. There is considerable research that identifies effective 

countermeasures to reduce fatalities and serious injuries. These research-based, effective countermeasures should guide the 

selection of HSIP projects and programs. 

The Focus is Results

Addresses a priority in the SHSP

Is identified through a data-driven process

Targets an identified safety problem

Contributes to a reduction in fatalities

and serious injuries
A Broader Safety Vision

The HSIP legislation under 23 U.S.C. 148 provides a list of 

example highway safety improvement projects that may 

be eligible for HSIP funding. However, specific eligibility 

requirements may differ by State, so it is a good idea to check 

with the State DOT. In general, if a project meets the eligibility 

criteria outlined above, then it would be eligible for HSIP funds 

as long as it also meets general Federal-aid requirements. 

The key to funding any highway safety improvement project is 

identifying individual projects through a data-driven process 

consistent with the State’s SHSP and the true spirit of the HSIP.

Checklist 

Use this checklist when considering HSIP project selection. 

Is the strategy, activity, or project consistent with the 

priorities in the SHSP? 

Does the project address a serious crash risk (e.g., hot 

spot, systemic risk factor, road segment, crash type, etc.) 

identified through a data-driven process? 

Is the project likely to contribute to a significant reduction 

in fatalities and serious injuries? 

Have you consulted with the State DOT or FHWA Division 

Office, as appropriate? 

Answering “Yes” to each of these questions is critical to 

ensuring the best use of HSIP funds consistent with the intent 

of the law. 

The Focus is Results

For More Information

FHWA Division Offices

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/field.html

FHWA Office of Safety

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov

 HSIP Resources and Guidance

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/hsip

The Highway Safety Peer-to-Peer Program

877-473-0953 or

http://rspcb.safety.fhwa.dot.gov/technical.aspx

Highway Safety Improvement Program

Data Driven Decisions

Pub No.: FHWA-SA-15-011