Vulnerable road user fatalities have been increasing in the United States. To address this problem, transportation agencies at multiple levels of government often recommend the installation of traffic safety infrastructure. However, these measures not only represent a financial burden for municipalities in rural and suburban areas but also overlook the limited authority that these jurisdictions have over certain highways. This study identifies such limitations in New York State by drawing from a policy review, as well as interviews with county representatives and transportation professionals. It finds that state transportation laws, outdated road design standards, and poorly coordinated governmental agencies are some of the most common obstacles to the installation of safety infrastructure in the state’s suburban and rural areas. To overcome these barriers, governments should give more importance to qualitative data, be more flexible with the use of alternative road design standards, and promote collaboration across agencies and jurisdictions.