The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently awarded $6.185 million in development research contracts through fiscal year 2019.
The contracts were awarded under the Accessible Transportation Technologies Research Initiative (ATTRI) and are designed to improve mobility options for travelers.
“The ATTRI program and the innovators taking part in this important program are working to make mobility more accessible to all Americans, including those with disabilities,” said Vince Valdes, Federal Transit Administration Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration, and Innovation. “These projects give FTA and the broader USDOT community the opportunity to leverage transformative technological advances to ensure that public transportation fulfills its promise to serve everyone.”
Approximately 20 percent of the population is disabled. In addition, the U.S. population is aging, posing mobility issues.
USDOT received 34 proposals in three categories: pre-trip and concierge services, safe intersection crossing, and wayfinding and navigation.
The largest contract, $2 million, was awarded to Carnegie Mellon University for its project to develop assistive services to allow the disabled to safely cross intersections and to connect disabled pedestrian to the traffic-signal systems.
Other contracts include:
AbleLink Smart Living Technologies received $923,721 to create geographically specific cloud-based libraries of routes.
Pathway Accessibility Solutions received $913,389 to continue development on a tool for the visually impaired and for wheelchair users.