GDOT Safety Equipment Program: Over $1 Million Still Available for Local Safety Projects
Program Overview
The Safety Equipment Purchase Program is funded through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and is designed to support local agencies by purchasing safety equipment, while the local government installs and maintains the equipment. Projects may be located on or off the state route system, making this a flexible opportunity for cities and counties addressing pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety concerns.
Eligible Safety Equipment
Eligible equipment includes, but is not limited to:
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs)
Flashing Yellow Arrows
Signal backplates and visibility enhancements
Other traffic safety devices
Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs) may also be considered; however, due to their higher cost, these requests must include strong justification and demonstrate that the local agency has the capacity to install and maintain the equipment.
Key Application Requirements
Applicants should be prepared to provide:
A clear safety justification, supported by crash data or other relevant studies
An installation and maintenance plan
Location details, including whether the equipment is on a state route
Supporting analysis, which may be completed using existing pedestrian or bicycle planning contracts
Please note that any signal equipment installed on a state route will be required to go through the GDOT signal permitting process. GDOT staff are available to assist local agencies with this step.
Timeline and Next Steps
Applications are being accepted through March, and GDOT strongly encourages eligible local governments to identify priority locations and submit requests as soon as possible. This program has consistently proven to be an effective way to implement safety improvements without long project delivery timelines.
A Safety Equipment Request Form is available below. Applicants are also welcome to attend upcoming VRU Task Team meetings, where GDOT staff will walk through the application and answer questions.
Call to Action: If you are aware of intersections, corridors, or crossings in your community that would benefit from enhanced safety measures, now is the time to apply.
[Button: Safety Equipment Request Application]
Priority consideration will be given to jurisdictions that cooperate with federal law enforcement to address illegal immigration and coordinate and participate with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).
Region 10 Regional Bike & Pedestrian Plan Kick-Off Meeting
Southwest Georgia Regional Commission Receives 2026 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations
Five Southwest Georgia Communities Awarded CHIP Housing Grants
Southwest Georgia Regional Commission Staff Participate in 2026 GARC Economic Development Conference
SWGRC Staff Attend HUD Healthy Homes Program Manager Training
Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH) Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Cycle
RRP Lead-Based Paint Certification Training Coming to Camilla
Miller County Transit Development Plan (TDP) in Development
The Southwest Georgia Regional Commission is currently developing a Transit Development Plan (TDP) for Lee County. This effort aims to strengthen coordination and collaboration while supporting local planning and informational needs. The plan is funded through a planning grant from GDOT (5304) and is intended to serve as a guiding resource for the county and its municipalities. This plan is prepared with data compiled from several sources, including U.S. Census Bureau data, American Community Survey results, the community’s most recent Comprehensive Plan, GDOT’s adopted Regional Transit Development Plan, GDOT’s Statewide Transit Plan, community input survey results, community websites, and Southwest Georgia Regional Transit trip data. Lee County, its municipalities, and GDOT, will be encouraged to use this plan to help inform future decisions related to rural public transit services. Community Input Meetings Two meetings are scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2026: 9:30 AM-10:30 AM at the Leesburg Library 1:00 PM-2:00 PM at the Oakland Library Download the flyer which includes a QR code for easy access to the survey. The survey does not have to be completed at the scheduled meetings. The survey can be completed at any time, and a direct link to the survey is also provided here . Additionally, I encourage anyone to reach out to me by phone if they do not have internet access or cannot attend the meeting using the contact information below: Amanda Nava-Estill Director of Transportation (229) 552-3552 x108
