Federal Rules Let States Count More Road Deaths as 'Progress'

The majority of federal infrastructure funding is not tied to federal requirements, letting states set their own targets for road safety and improvements.

2 minute read

March 21, 2022, 12:00 PM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Highway Construction

Sheri Armstrong / Shutterstock

"The lengths the U.S. Transportation Department can go in shaping how states spend money has emerged as a flash point in the implementation of the [federal] infrastructure package," writes Ian Duncan in The Washington Post.

When the highway administration conducted its most recent performance reviews, covering 2019 and 2020, it often graded states as having made progress even when they performed worse than in previous years. The most recent disclosures show that four states hit all 11 of their targets, yet no state made actual improvements across the board. In reality, 34 states slid backward on at least half of the measures that federal officials track.

"The law does not require that money go to repairing aging or dangerous infrastructure, leaving those spending decisions to state transportation leaders." According to the article, "The federal government has little direct control over what states build, handing over money in the form of huge grants."

While some programs have stricter requirements (for example, "states where cyclists and pedestrians account for more than 15 percent of road deaths will be required to dedicate funding to their safety"), the bulk of federal funding is not attached to specific targets.

While the Federal Highway Administration has defended the system, "The U.S. Transportation Department, however, recently indicated it intends to revisit the approach. A road safety plan that Buttigieg released early this year says the department will consider revising its rules to 'ensure that State safety performance targets demonstrate constant or improved performance for each safety performance measure.'"

Friday, March 18, 2022 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

White Waymo self-driving car with camera and sensors mounted to front driver's side mirror.

USDOT Waters Down Self-Driving Car Regulations

The agency is reducing reporting requirements for autonomous vehicles and cars with self-driving features, prompting concern among safety advocates who say transparency is essential to the safe deployment of AV technology.

45 seconds ago - Wired

Bronze or metal Native American mask sculpture in park in Minnehaha County.

‘Minnesota Nice’ Isn’t so Nice When You Can’t Find a Place to Live

The Economic Development and Housing Challenge Program can help address the scourge of homelessness among Indigenous people.

1 hour ago - Minnesota Reformer

Children and adults biking and hanging out on an Open Street closed to vehicles in New York City during the Covid-19 pandemic.

NYC Open Streets Organizers Call for City Support

The number of open streets projects has dropped year after year as volunteer groups struggle to fund and staff them.

2 hours ago - StreetsBlog NYC