The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced $29 million in available funds for competitive research for innovative public transportation projects. Grants will help transit agencies strengthen operational safety, prepare for natural disasters and improve emergency response capabilities.
Never before have funds available through the FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment Program been dedicated to implementing solutions specifically designed to strengthen safety and improve transit system resiliency.
“For the first time in FTA’s history, we’re calling on the transit industry, the private sector, universities and others to work with us to develop and implement innovative solutions that reflect our commitment to safety and bringing transit facilities into a state of good repair,” said Peter Rogoff, FTA administrator. “This will translate into real-world improvements that protect riders and taxpayers alike, ranging from reducing transit-related injuries to making transit systems less vulnerable to flooding and severe weather.”
Funding proposals will be considered these areas:
- Operational Safety: Projects that develop and demonstrate new or improved technologies, methods and practices to increase the operational safety of public transportation services.
- Resiliency: Projects that increase the resilience and robustness of public transportation systems so they can better withstand natural disasters and other externally caused emergencies.
- All-Hazards Emergency Response and Recovery: Projects to improve communications with emergency responders and demonstrate promising methods for restoring transit service in the wake of a major disruption.
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