On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a funding opportunity to establish the U.S. DOT Climate and Transportation Research Initiative.
The funding would support a partnership between the DOT and an eligible organization to further research on challenges at the intersection of climate and transportation and their solutions. The first of its kind initiative will receive $2.5 million in its first year.
“In the past few months alone, Americans from Vermont to Hawaii have faced the devastating impact of so-called ‘once-in-a-century’ disasters that are now becoming more frequent, more deadly, and more destructive to our economy than ever,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “As we face the profound and urgent threat of the climate crisis, we need cleaner transportation systems, and this investment will help deliver that by harnessing research and technology to find new solutions.”
Officials said the Climate and Transportation Research Center will advance research and technologies to further the country’s energy goals while strengthening the transportation infrastructure resilience and addressing the infrastructure’s environmental impacts.
The funding will provide a university or nonprofit and at least one partner organization with $2.5 million in year one and up to $2.5 million in years two and three, depending on funding availability. The partnership can be renewed for up to five years, depending on funding availability.
“When it comes to climate change and transportation, research and technology have a lot to bring to the table,” Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Science Officer said. “This unprecedented funding opportunity will help us advance climate solutions for the entire transportation sector.”