The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced Thursday it would make $6.5 million in research funding available for innovative transit bus automation demonstration projects that improve safety and efficiency.
Projects might include strategies for avoiding collisions with pedestrians, improved emergency braking, and precision movement for us fueling, charging, and maintenance, the department said.
“This funding opportunity demonstrates the Department’s commitment to supporting the use of technology that improves safety for transit riders and workers,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez.
Under the Notice of Funding Opportunity, FTA is making $5 million available for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, which would help transit bus operators improve safety and efficiency. Another $1.5 million will be available for automated transit bus maintenance operations to improve safety and efficiency in maintenance facilities. FTA will focus on the potential impacts the projects will have on the workforce in awarding the grants.
FTA is continuing to explore the use of automation technologies in bus systems and is funding several demonstrations in real-world settings to determine potential benefits, costs, and other impacts. Research priorities include exploring how new technology can improve safety by reducing collisions caused by human error. The USDOT said safety is a top priority and the FTA Funding Opportunities represented another step in combating the rising numbers of deaths on American roads.
Completed project proposals must be submitted electronically through grants.gov by Nov. 21, 2022.