Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)

The Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) is a core Federal-aid program used by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) with the purpose of achieving a significant reduction in traffic fatalities and suspected serious injuries on all public roads, including locally-owned roads and roads on tribal lands. 

The HSIP requires a data-driven, strategic approach to improving highway safety with a focus on performance. Utah’s ultimate roadway safety goal is zero fatalities, injuries, and crashes. HSIP funds are critical in our efforts to reach this goal. UDOT has established the Zero Fatalities brand for messaging this initiative to the public.

Applications for HSIP project funding can be submitted at any time through each UDOT Region’s Traffic Operations Engineer. Applications received by October 15th of each year will be evaluated for funding as a part of the following year’s 3-year programming process. Each application requires a defined scope of work and detailed cost estimate. Selected projects are usually funded within 2-4 years.

HSIP Projects must show a positive estimated benefit to cost ratio and conform to the Utah Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). UDOT collaborates with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to select and oversee projects. Qualified projects are ranked and selected based on their estimated benefit to cost ratio. Selected projects require a funding match from the roadway owner and are advertised through the Federal-aid program process.

Typical HSIP infrastructure projects include installation or reconstruction of roadway elements based on UDOT approved safety countermeasures that prevent crashes and/or reduce crash severity. HSIP funds also support important non-infrastructure efforts including safety program management, crash database development, and studies that identify future infrastructure project locations and/or mitigations.

Additional HSIP Program details and process elements are included in UDOT’s HSIP Manual.