Caltrans has secured roughly $1.4 million from the California Office of Traffic Safety to expand and improve traffic data collection across the state highway system. The funding flows from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through OTS for fiscal year 2026.

The money will support collection of average annual daily traffic counts on non-Federal Aid System roads, including rural roads, collector roads feeding the state highway network, and urban local streets. It will also fund an inventory of intersection types and designs on those local roads.

Caltrans analyzes data sets such as lane conditions, intersection and shoulder types, traffic controls, speed limits and traffic volumes to evaluate road safety. Agency leadership tied the effort to the state's goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by targeting crash patterns and directing safety investments.

For contractors, better roadway data typically shapes where future safety improvement projects are prioritized and funded. The grant also emphasizes outreach and coordination with local agencies, MPOs and regional transportation planning bodies, signaling continued pipeline development for safety-focused public works.