The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) recently announced $11.6 million to support six transit bus automation research projects.
“Advancements in technology can go a long way toward creating a safer and more efficient transit system,” FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez said. “The innovative research projects we are funding represent an important step toward integrating state-of-the-art automation technology into real-world settings, helping transit agencies protect their operators and riders as well as vulnerable road users.”
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University received more than $4.5 million to demonstrate and collect data on a forward automatic braking, and pedestrian collision avoidance for buses.
Connecticut Department of Transportation received $2 million to expand a FTA-sponsored transit automation program along the CTfastrak bus rapid transit corridor.
University of Alabama received $2 million to test automation technologies for large transit buses using a lab simulated environment.
Colorado Department of Transportation received more than $1.2 million to demonstrate technology in three retrofitted buses.
CapMetro in Austin, Texas, received nearly $950,000 to integrate vehicle automation in an advanced yard management system and run heavy-duty vehicle demonstrations at its operations facility.
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority received nearly $893,000 to test retrofitting a bus to operate autonomously.