The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) officials said the agencies have earmarked $49.2 million in grant funds to improve travel.
“With these grants, the Biden-Harris Administration is helping communities deliver modern transportation systems that connect people to where they want to go more affordably, efficiently, and safely,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “We’re pleased to support these innovative solutions that will improve driving and public transit for Americans in urban, suburban, and rural areas alike.”
The innovative technology grants would improve mobility and multimodal connections for millions of Americans utilizing the nation’s highway and transit systems.
FHWA awarded $45.2 million in Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) grants to 10 projects using advanced intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies.
“ATCMTD grants promote innovations that help expand access to transportation for communities in rural areas and cities alike, improve connectivity, and prepare America’s transportation systems for the future,” Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack said. “The program uses advanced technologies and innovation to promote safety for drivers and transit riders and funds projects across the nation that others can learn from as national models.”
According to the agencies, grants can be applied to technologies ranging from systems detecting and preventing wrong-way crashes to advanced technology improving trucking operations and terminal operator activities at a port.
The FTA awarded $4 million in Enhancing Mobility Innovation grants to nine transit agencies and organizations in six states and the District of Columbia to improve access and mobility for transit riders.
“FTA’s Enhancing Mobility Innovation program provides more tools to improve mobility and make all modes of transit easier to use and more attractive to riders,” FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said.