FAST Act

Key FAST Programs

Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)

The FAST Act continues the requirement that HSIP funds be used for safety projects that are consistent with a State’s strategic highway safety plan (Minnesota SHSP) — which corrects/improves a hazardous road area or addresses a highway safety problem. The purpose of HSIP is to significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries on public roads.

Under the previous federal transportation act MAP-21, this program listed a non-exhaustive range of eligible projects. The FAST Act eliminates this flexibility, however, and changes eligible projects to 18 specific types. Four new project types added to the original 14 are as follows: 

1. Installation of vehicle-to-infrastructure communication equipment
2. Pedestrian hybrid beacons
3. Roadway improvements that provide separation between pedestrians and motor vehicles, including medians and pedestrian crossing islands
4. Other physical infrastructure projects not specifically enumerated in the list of eligible projects

The FAST Act eliminates the ability to fund public awareness and education efforts. It also eliminates funding to increase enforcement of highway safety laws including deployment of additional enforcement to problem areas and funding for the Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (Minnesota HEAT) program.

See FHWA HSIP Rulemaking for the final rule, major provisions, and supplemental materials.