USDOT: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Motor Carrier Safety Awards Funding to 56 States, Territories for Safer Roads

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Executive Summary:

• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) awarded over $471 million in Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grants.

• These are intended to prevent accidents, fatalities, and injuries involving commercial motor vehicles.

• The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has increased funding for MCSAP grants by 61%, offering states and territories the highest-ever funds to enhance roadway safety.

• The MCSAP is FMCSA’s largest grant program. It aids state, territorial, and local transportation offices and law enforcement agencies in using over 12,000 officers to increase safety activities.

• The MCSAP is designed to reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries associated with commercial motor vehicles. It supports commercial driver training, safety inspections, and enhanced compliance and enforcement initiatives.

• All states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories receive funding annually through MCSAP grants.

• A revised formula established in 2020 ensures that no state’s MCSAP funding will decrease by more than 3% or increase by more than 5% each year. This funding formula promotes transparency and equity.

Unedited Press Release Text:

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided a 61% increase in funding for states and territories to support roadway safety

Washington – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) awarded more than $471 million in Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) grants to help fund initiatives aimed at preventing crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving commercial motor vehicles (CMV).

“Commercial vehicles are an essential part of our supply chains, our economy, and our way of life—and we must ensure that they are as safe as possible,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This funding will help save lives by making our roads safer for commercial vehicle drivers and everyone who shares the road with them.”

The MCSAP is FMCSA’s largest grant program. It supports state, territorial, and local transportation offices and law enforcement agencies in the utilization of more than 12,000 officers to increase education, outreach, and safety activities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided for a 61% increase in the amount of funding available through MCSAP grants, giving states and territories more money than ever before to support roadway safety through enhanced driver and vehicle inspections, traffic enforcement, investigations, data collection, and public education and awareness. 

The goal of the MCSAP is to reduce CMV-involved crashes, fatalities, and injuries through consistent, uniform, and effective CMV safety programs that support innovative commercial driver training, safety inspections, and enhanced compliance and enforcement initiatives. 

“These grants align with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and ensure we are all working towards the same goal: zero fatalities on our roadways,” said FMCSA Administrator Robin Hutcheson. “FMCSA’s core mission is safety, and we are committed to working with our state and territorial partners to enhance the safety of our roadways.” 

Administrator Hutcheson and other leaders from FMCSA met with MCSAP grant recipients last month to further align efforts and best maximize the use of grant funding.

To be eligible for the grants, a state or territory must have an FMCSA-approved Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP). FMCSA partners with grantees to support consistent, uniform, and effective CMV safety programs.

All states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories receive funding annually through MCSAP grants. A revised MCSAP formula issued in 2020 promotes stability in the size of the awards to ensure that no state’s percentage of MCSAP funding will decrease by more than 3 percent, or increase by more than 5 percent, each year.

The MCSAP funding formula ensures transparency and equity. 

Read more about FMCSA’s grants and financial assistance. 

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SOURCE: https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/biden-harris-administration-announces-motor-carrier-safety-awards-funding-56-states

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