Yesterday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced over $50 million in grant awards for 34 projects across the country. This funding comes from the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program.
The program provides $500 million over five years for advances in technology that create a safer, more efficient, and more innovative transportation system. It was established under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
"The Biden-Harris administration is proud to award $50 million to promising technology projects that have the potential to help Americans travel more safely, affordably, and efficiently," said Buttigieg. "Today's funding will help 34 communities across the country advance innovative solutions for better rail crossings, safer road intersections, improved transit accessibility, and more."
This is the second year of SMART grant awards. This year, there were 321 grant applications.
“The continued popularity of SMART, building on last year, demonstrates the demand for purpose-driven technology solutions undertaken by State, local, and Tribal agencies. We are thrilled to announce another round of exciting and innovative projects,” said Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Science Officer.
Some of the selected projects are:
- Projects including the City of Chattanooga, Tenn., Charleston, S.C., and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation in Wash., focus on using connected vehicle and smart roadside sensors to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians, and other road users on urban streets and rural highways.
- In Wyoming and Maryland, statewide highway projects will address work zone safety for highway crews through data sharing and speed management.
- Talladega, Ala. will deploy smart traffic signals and sensors near the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind to detect and protect pedestrians.
- Projects in Denver, Co. and Contra Costa County, Calif. will streamline and unify dozens of disparate paratransit providers and systems to make them more accessible.
A full list of awards can be viewed here.
-----------------------------------------------
Source: USDOT
