The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has earmarked $6.5 million in grant funding to assist seven states and Pawnee Nation with highway innovations.
The states awarded are Alabama, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, North Carolina – joining the Pawnee Nation in Oklahoma in receiving the funding allotment to bolster safety and rebuild infrastructure that could potentially serve as a nationwide template.
“These federal grants will advance innovative transportation solutions to improve safety and mobility on America’s roadways,” Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said.
The Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration Program has provided 110 grants, valued at more than $80 million, since its inception in 2014, officials said.
The initiative has helped federal land management agencies, local and tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and state departments of transportation expedite transportation innovations.
“These grants help state, local and tribal governments deliver projects sooner and more cost-effectively for the traveling public,” Federal Highway Administrator Nicole R. Nason said.
Examples of previous awardees’ projects include funding more energy-efficient overhead highway lighting, installing bridge-monitoring sensors, work zone safety technology, and intelligent compaction technologies that can extend the useful life of pavement.
The AID Demonstration Program builds on the FHWA’s efforts to collaborate with states and localities, federal land management agencies, and tribal governments to expedite the adoption of innovations while reducing project delivery times.