Safety Programming for Tribal Transportation: Promoting Partnerships and Potential Funding

1. 28th Annual International Traffic Records Forum“Safety Programming” Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. Esther Corbett August 4, 2002

2. ITCA Transportation Initiatives • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Transportation Project • Pass through funds to Tribes for TANF transit • Transportation Working Group • Policy Review • Partnerships • Programming • Potential Funding

3. Indian Health Service Phoenix Area (NV, UT, AZ, excluding Navajo and Tucson areas. Also includes Indians receiving health assistance in urban areas) 15.9% of all deaths were caused by accidents Indian Health Service Tucson Area (Tohono O’odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe. Also includes Indians receiving health assistance in Tucson) 14.2% of all deaths were caused by accidents 1994-96 - Accidents were 1 of 5 Causes of Death for Indians

4. Indian Health Service Phoenix Area 7.7% of all discharges from IHS and Tribal direct and contract general hospitals pertained to injuries Indian Health Service Tucson Area 7.8% of all discharges from IHS and Tribal direct and contract general hospitals pertained to injuries FY 1997 – Injuries were 1 of 5 Causes of Hospitalization for Indians

5. DepartmentofTransportation: Federal HighwayAdministration Arizona Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Offices of Highway Safety BIA Highway Safety Office Department of the Interior: Bureau of Indian Affairs BIA Division of Transportation 12 Regional Offices Western Regional Office (AZ, UT, NV) Federal Safety Programming

6. Bureau of Indian Affairs Transportation Program “Indian Reservation Roads”

7. Indian Reservation RoadsAdministration • 1983 Memorandum of Agreement • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) • Federal Lands Highway Program (FLHP) • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)

8. Indian Reservation RoadsFunding • USDOT funds • Formula based • FHWA • FLHO • BIA Division of Transportation • 12 BIA Regional Offices • Western Regional Office • Arizona • Nevada • Utah

9. Indian Reservation Roads Eligible Activities • Planning • Safety • Road Construction • Transit

10. Indian Reservation RoadsPlanning Funds • Up to 2% of the IRR funds are reserved for planning activities • Amounts to $352,415 for the Western Region (WR) in FY2001 • Supports construction, safety, and transit planning for Tribes in Arizona, Nevada and Utah • On average, 5 of 46 tribal governments in the WR may be awarded annually • Priority is provided to the Tribes who have not received planning funds in the last 5 years

11. Indian Reservation RoadsEligible Safety Planning • Employ a tribal transportation planner • Assist tribal representatives with travel expenses to attend transportation planning meetings, conferences and seminars • Prepare tribal applications for other transportation funds • Analyze tribal safety needs • Develop and utilize tribal safety management systems • Complete tribal safety studies

12. Indian Reservation RoadsTribal Program Challenges • Too few program dollars • Too few tribal transportation staff • Too many unmet planning and road construction needs • Too little program coordination

13. Federal Highway Administration Safety Programs

14. FHWA Safety Programs for States • Surface Transportation Program (STP) • Hazard Elimination Program • Transportation Enhancement Program • State Planning and Research Program • Intelligent Transportation System Integration • Surface Transportation Research

15. FHWA Safety Programs for Tribes • No safety-related programs, equal to the state programs, exist in the BIA system for Tribes • Tribes may participate in the state programs, if they compete with the local governments for safety research and program funds

16. FHWA Tribal Program Challenges • Direct funding not available to Tribes • Insufficient outreach to create awareness of safety resources • Partial recruitment of tribal safety projects • Limited utilization of the funding process, because most state projects are prioritized by the local governments • Match requirements

17. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Programs

18. NHTSA Safety Programs for States • State and Community Highway Safety Grants* • Use of Safety Belts and Motorcycle Helmets • Safety Incentive Grants for Use of Seat Belts • Alcohol Impairing Driving Countermeasures • Safety Incentives to Prevent Operation of Motor Vehicles by Intoxicated Drivers • Occupant Protection Incentive Grants • Open Container Requirements • Incentive Grant for Alcohol Impaired Driving Prevention Programs • Child Passenger Protection Education Grants* • State Highway Safety Data Improvement Grants*

19. NHTSASafety Programs for Tribes • State and Community Highway Safety Grants • State Highway Safety Data Improvement Grants • Child Passenger Protection Education Grants

20. NHTSATribal Program Challenges • Limited tribal eligibility for safety initiatives • Complicated administration of the tribal safety programs. • Secretary of the Interior is the designated Governor for the State (of 558+ Indian Nations) • DOI Governor’s Office of Safety is BIA (Highway Safety Office) • Insufficient funding • FY2001 Highway Safety Program $1,101,817 • FY2001 Occupant Protection $ 56,813 • FY1999 Data Improvement $ 25,000 • Inadequate coordination

21. A Traffic Safety Resource Pilot Tribal Highway Safety Data Improvement “Tribal Data Assessment Projects”

22. Data Improvement Program Objectives • Develop and operate a safety management system to control traffic-related injuries • Plan safety programs • Identify safety problems • Track safety trends • Implement and evaluate highway safety countermeasures

23. Data Improvement ProgramAssessment Process • NHTSA assembles a peer team from disciplines, such as EMS, engineering, law enforcement, safety • Team conducts interviews to evaluate the existing data management system • Team determines the effectiveness of the system to identify highway safety problems and solutions • Team documents approaches to improve the system

24. Data Improvement Program Grants • TEA21 created State Highway Safety Data Improvement Grant (Section 411) • 3 Phase Grant Program • Start-up Grant $ 25,000 • Initiation Grant $125,000 • Implementation Grant $225,000 • All Tribes must share one grant

25. Data Improvement Program Funding for Tribes • In FY1999, NHTSA awarded BIA a $25,000 “Start-up Grant” to assist 558 Tribes with traffic record assessments • BIA is not eligible to apply for an “Initiation Grant” until the Tribe(s) complete traffic record assessment(s)

26. Data Improvement Program Introduction to Tribes • ITCA sponsored forums to introduce Tribes to safety programming • February 2001 ADOT, BIA, FHWA, GOHS, IHS, Kimley-Horn presented federal and state safety programming • April 2001 NHTSA promoted the Data Improvement Program • May 2001 Road Safety & Public Health Conference

27. Data Improvement Program Recruitment of Tribes • During June-July 2001, ITCA recruited Tribes in Arizona to pilot the program • San Carlos Apache Tribe • Tohono O’odham Nation • White Mountain Apache Tribe • BIA recruited tribal participation nationally • Menominee Tribe • BIA recruited additional Tribes in 2002

28. Data Improvement Program Tribal Assessment Schedule • August2001 NHTSA Pre-Assessment meetings with 3 Tribes in Arizona • October2001 NHTSA Assessments with the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the Tohono O’odham Nation • November2001 NHTSA Assessments with the Menominee Tribe and White Mountain Apache Tribe • January 2002 BIA and State grant applications due • May 2002 Tribes are still waiting to apply to BIA

29. Data Improvement Program Assessment Coordination • Multiple jurisdictions and agencies collect tribal traffic data • Essential to coordinate with multiple departments • BIA Regional Road Department, Regional Law Enforcement, Agency Road Maintenance • IHS Injury Prevention, Environmental Health, EMS • Tribe Courts, Law Enforcement, Planning, Game & Fish, Health, EMS, Grantwriting, Forestry, Council committees • State Motor Vehicle, Traffic Records, District Engineers, Planning

30. Data Improvement ProgramTribal Assessment • Team meets in the tribal community to interview staff regarding 6 traffic record files • Crash file • Citation file • Emergency medical services file • Road inventory file • Vehicle file • Driver license file • Team debriefs tribal staff on the assessment findings • Team prepares a report for the Tribes to use in safety planning and grantwiritng

31. Data Improvement ProgramAssessment Findings • Too early in the process to have finalized approaches for 3 Tribes in Arizona • The results will assist the tribal reps to develop a comprehensive plan to initiate data management improvements • “Initiation Grant” will provided the necessary funds to institute the tribal data plans

32. Data Improvement ProgramNHTSA Headquarters’ Strategy to Promote Tribal Participation • Outreach On-site Program promotion • Consultation 2 Pre-assessment meetingswith Tribes in AZ • Technical Assistance Financial resources • Funding Tier grant structure • FlexibilityStaff attitude at Headquarters • Creativity Non-traditional approach • Advocacy NHTSA convening inter- agency meeting on resources

33. Recommendations for Expanding Tribal Participation in Safety Programming

34. Safety Programming Challenges for Tribes • Funding • Administration • Consultation • Communication • Coordination • Cooperation

35. Suggestions for Improving Safety Programming for Tribes • Authorize tribal eligibility and funding for more safety programs • Develop tribal safety programs in coordination with Tribes, and federal and state agencies • Share programming and application information/ schedules with Tribes on a timely basis • Provide technical assistance to Tribes for safety grant development

36. Resources: Safety Programs • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.nhtsa.dot.gov • BIA Highway Safety Program www.doi.gov/bia/highway_safety/index.htm • Indian Reservation Roads www.irr.bia.gov • Federal Highway Administration www.fhwa.dot.gov