The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration announced it would award nearly $20.3 million in grants to fund 25 projects in 23 states through its Integrated Mobility Integration program.
The Integrated Mobility Integration (IMI) program focuses on projects that use technology and innovative processes to improve access to public transportation, increase efficiency in public transportation, and make the experience for public transportation consumers better.
According to the USDOT, the projects bring new partnerships and new technologies together to enhance mobility for everyone.
“These $20.3 million in federal grants will help communities nationwide enhance their transportation systems to make it easier for people to use transit, especially older adults and people with disabilities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The projects include:
• $1.7 million awarded to the Central Ohio Transit Authority for a software platform that brings together traffic and transit management data and utilized artificial intelligence to improve safety and efficiency while developing new communications channels.
• $2 million to the Connecticut Department of Transportation to test automated electric buses for its rapid transit corridor to improve safety for riders with disabilities through automated docking and eliminating performance gaps in drivers that create unsafe situations for riders.
• $1.7 million to integrate self-driving cars into the on-demand car-sharing service in Arlington, Texas. The program will be expanded to service University of Texas-Arlington students and add a wheelchair accessible vehicle to the mix.
• $260,800 for Baldwin County (Alabama) Commission to replace a transportation request system for their on-demand rural transit network. The system would enhance trip planning and payment mechanisms while providing the transit riders in the area with increased access to jobs, schools, and health care.
According to the FTA, more than 104 projects totaling more than $107 million applied for grant money in the summer of 2019.