Maximize Your SS4A Grant: Smarter Monitoring for Safer Streets and Transit

If you work within New York's vast transportation network - NYSDOT, a county-level DOT, a municipal transit agency, or anywhere in between - you've likely seen the safety statistics. These stats highlight persistent roadway fatalities, pedestrian injuries, and aging infrastructure that can't keep pace with modern safety demands.

These safety concerns have lead to the development of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. The program is funneling large amounts of federal dollars into transportation projects aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries.

Now, New York agencies - rural, urban, and Tribal - are among the beneficiaries, with more funding on the way. The key question here is: How will you use it?

Your SS4A plan needs more than just upgraded signage and crosswalks. You must learn how to incorporate real-time monitoring to make sure your infrastructure remains online - even under harsh conditions or during widespread power outages.

What Does the SS4A Grant Program Mean for New York

The SS4A program, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), aims to cut roadway deaths and injuries by distributing $5 billion from 2022 through 2026. Here's an overview of what's happened so far:

• Over $2.9 billion awarded to more than 1,600 communities.
• 257 communities awarded in 2024 alone.
• About $2 billion still available for coming rounds.
• Eligible recipients include DOTs (state and local), cities, MPOs, and Tribal governments.

The next funding opportunity - Fiscal Year 2025 SS4A - is set to open by the end of March 2025. If you're finalizing your Action Plan or Implementation Grant proposal, now is the time to integrate operational improvements like remote monitoring into your blueprint.

Think Beyond Traditional Infrastructure Upgrades

Most agencies cover the core elements of safety:

1. High-visibility signage and better markings.
2. Improved crosswalks with flashing beacons.
3. Traffic calming measures to reduce speeding.

These are essential steps, but they often lack one essential piece: real-time visibility into whether everything stays up and running.

For example, if a flashing beacon loses power or a traffic signal malfunctions during a storm, how long does it take for you to find out? If it's only after a resident calls in - or worse, after a collision occurs - that might be exactly the kind of problem that SS4A was meant to address.

These are the type of areas where remote monitoring shines. You get immediate alerts for critical failures, letting you address hazards before they escalate.

The Smarter Approach: Add Monitoring to Your SS4A Proposal

SS4A explicitly supports "operational safety improvements" within Implementation Grants. This means you can secure funding for technology that boosts your situational awareness and system health. Think of it as preparing your infrastructure for the future:

• Monitor flashing pedestrian crossings for power or battery failures.
• Track HVAC status in traffic cabinets to prevent overheating or freezing.
• Get alerts for intrusion or unauthorized cabinet access.
• Monitor generators at rural transit hubs or ferry terminals.
• Collect data (via SNMP, MODBUS, or contact closures) for all critical points.

With this type of deployment, you won't just upgrade signs and signals. You'll have confidence that they'll stay operational. No more waiting for a phone call to learn that a signal is out.

Don't Miss Your Window - Start Planning FY25 Monitoring Upgrades

With the FY25 SS4A round on the horizon, you should be:

1. Identifying high-incident locations or vulnerable sites where monitoring would make a major safety impact.
2. Adding a monitoring component to your SS4A budget and scope of work.
3. Consulting with manufacturers or integrators to choose the right equipment.

Once you've installed monitoring devices and seen the benefits, you'll also gain valuable data to support future grant applications. You can show quantifiable improvements in uptime, response times, and infrastructure reliability. These are the key metrics that funding agencies want to see.

Target Rural and Tribal Areas to Maximize Impact

Although large urban centers often get the spotlight, SS4A funding includes rural and Tribal communities - with more than $200 million already awarded. Remote regions face unique challenges, such as:

• Long distances between maintenance bases and roadside devices.
• Severe winter weather that can knock out power lines.
• Limited staff for onsite inspections.

If a storm disables a flashing beacon on an isolated county road, you might not discover the problem until someone has a near miss (or worse). With real-time monitoring, you'll know the second a device goes down, so you can dispatch a crew immediately. That builds public trust and boosts your safety metrics.

Use Monitoring Data to Justify Your Future Grants

Grant agencies generally prioritize data-backed proposals. Proving that you have a need is so much different than simply claiming that you do.

Once you've deployed RTUs, you'll have a wealth of information:

• Frequency of outages and how quickly you resolved them.
• Detailed event logs showing environmental factors or potential vandalism.
• Performance stats for newly installed or legacy assets.

When it's time to apply for new rounds of SS4A (or other programs), you can point to specific metrics. You'll demonstrate how proactive monitoring led to fewer outages, quicker response times, and safer conditions overall. That creates a compelling case for ongoing investment.

Elevate Safety at Transit Facilities and Ferry Terminals

Transportation safety isn't just about roads. If you oversee bus depots, rail stations, or ferry terminals, you know those facilities contain important equipment:

• HVAC units to protect electronics or keep waiting areas comfortable.
• Battery banks for backup power.
• Generators for storm resilience.

Failure in any of these systems can cause downtime, or (even worse!) create unsafe conditions for travelers. By deploying RTUs, you'll gain visibility into:

• Generator fuel levels and runtime.
• HVAC status, including temperature, humidity, and filter conditions.
• Intrusion alarms for off-limits cabinets or control rooms.
• Flood or water-level sensors, critical in low-lying areas.

These insights make sure your facilities remain fully functional - even during extreme weather or peak travel periods.

Go Beyond "Install and Forget" - Enable Proactive Maintenance

Too often, new infrastructure is installed and forgotten until it breaks. With simple, low-cost RTUs, you can:

• Monitor battery voltage on solar beacons.
• Check enclosure temperatures to prevent overheating or freezing.
• Track solar charging levels (panels may be covered by snow).
• Confirm systems are online or offline.

This data helps you dispatch repair crews before a total failure. This keeps beacons, signage, and signals online to reduce accidents or inconvenience. SS4A funding can cover these monitoring components, turning your static upgrades into active assets that report their own health status.

Coordinate with Local Law Enforcement & 911 Centers

Real-time monitoring also benefits first responders:

• If a traffic cabinet is vandalized or power is lost, alerts can be sent to both DOT staff and the local 911 center.
• Law enforcement can quickly decide on rerouting or increased patrols.
• Emergency services can respond more efficiently if signals go down in a storm.

By sharing data with dispatch and law enforcement agencies, you increase the impact of your SS4A upgrades. This interagency cooperation strengthens your proposal and yields safer outcomes during crises or major weather events.

Improve Your Snow Route Safety with Smart Monitoring

Winter in New York (especially upstate) can be brutal, with whiteouts and slick roads creating hazards for drivers. Monitoring technology can play a huge role in winter-weather preparedness:

• Temperature sensors that detect freezing thresholds, prompting early salting or plowing.
• Power monitoring to confirm flashing beacons stay active during storms.
• Door sensors on salt domes to be sure supplies are secured.
• Automated alerts if road-weather sensors fail or go offline.

With this real-time intelligence, you'll coordinate your snow-clearing crews more effectively and reduce the chance of accidents caused by unmarked ice patches or non-functioning warning signs.

Avoid IT Headaches with Simple, Web-Based Interfaces

Some DOTs hesitate to adopt new technology because of IT hurdles. For example, proprietary software can require complicated installs or pose security risks. Fortunately, most modern RTUs offer:

• Browser-based interfaces with no extra software needed.
• Standard SNMP or MODBUS protocols for easy integration.
• Secure remote access that reduces expensive site visits.

A web-based approach also simplifies training. If a new staffer can open a browser and type in an IP address (or click a bookmark button), they can check the status of roadside cabinets or bus terminal equipment.

Use Open Protocols Like SNMP and MODBUS for Future Flexibility

Most transportation agencies juggle legacy hardware and newer systems. Avoid vendor lock-in by choosing gear that supports open protocols:

• SNMP for integration with standard network management systems.
• MODBUS for reading data from industrial-grade devices.
• Contact closures for older equipment without digital outputs.

Many DPS clients bridge older alarm inputs to a modern network by converting them to SNMP traps. This allows them to keep existing devices in the field while still gaining a modern monitoring environment.

T/Mon collects alarms from NetGuardian RTUs at remote sites and sends email notifications to technicians, maximizing visibility of network-affecting issues.

Gear That Works for New York DOTs

To increase your chances of grant approval, it's best to choose equipment that has a reputation for safety. RTUs built for transportation, utility, and telecom environments must handle extreme weather and challenging installation sites. If your region sees heavy snow, ice, coastal salt air, or scorching summers, you need durable devices that won't fail under stress.

Typical solutions include:

• Medium-capacity RTUs for traffic cabinets (monitoring power, temperatures, contact closures).
• DIN-rail RTUs for compact roadside enclosures.
• Master stations that collect alarm data from hundreds of RTUs and organize data.

Select a manufacturer that has a long track record - one that's been in the field for decades, servicing DOTs, utilities, railroads, and more. This allows for both durability and protocol interoperability (SNMP, MODBUS, etc.), so you're not stuck with a proprietary system.

Turn an SS4A Grant into True, Lasting Safety Upgrades

Most New York agencies are already preparing to improve roads, enhance signals, and install pedestrian safety features. But what happens after those systems are deployed?

That's where real-time monitoring makes the difference between temporary improvements and long-term safety gains. Imagine adding a layer of gear to your SS4A-funded projects so that:

• You immediately know when a beacon goes dark or a cabinet overheats.
• You have hard data to prove the ROI of these investments.
• You can integrate with multiple departments (public works, law enforcement, emergency management).

This is exactly what DPS monitoring gear is built for. With devices like the NetGuardian DIN for compact roadside installs and the NetGuardian 832A G6 for larger-scale traffic and transit cabinet monitoring, you gain a scalable monitoring architecture tailored for transportation environments.

Devices like the T/Mon master station offer centralized control, consolidating alarm data across your network.

Instead of playing defense - relying on citizen reports or post-incident investigations - you move to a proactive model where you improve your safety performance.

Stretch your SS4A grant dollars even further by using DPS equipment to turn every safety upgrades into a smarter, self-reporting asset that works 24/7, in all conditions.

Let's Talk About Adding Monitoring to Your SS4A Plans

If you'd like a guided approach, talk to experts who have helped DOTs and transit agencies deploy RTUs. If you reach out to DPS for support, you'll receive:

• A free consultation reviewing their site map and requirements.
• A tailored proposal listing eligible devices and relevant SS4A justifications.
• A plan for long-term data collection to secure future grants.

You'll connect with a team that understands DOT environments, harsh-weather challenges, and federal grant requirements. Together, we'll design a solution that aligns perfectly with SS4A guidelines - and brings real-time monitoring to the roads, transit hubs, and ferry terminals you operate.

Call: 559-454-1600
Email: sales@dpstele.com

Andrew Erickson

Andrew Erickson is an Application Engineer at DPS Telecom, a manufacturer of semi-custom remote alarm monitoring systems based in Fresno, California. Andrew brings more than 18 years of experience building site monitoring solutions, developing intuitive user interfaces and documentation, and opt...