On September 19, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) issued two funding opportunity notices for two funding programs: one for Enhanced Mobility and Transformative Transportation (SMART) and one for Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN). ). Both grant programs are authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and will fund the deployment of transportation technologies to facilitate wider adoption. Government entities can collaborate with the private sector to demonstrate technology under both programs. This is the first of five funding rounds for the two projects. The application deadline for everyone is November 18.
Smart Grants
DOT will provide $100 million in grants in the first round of SMART funding for public demonstration projects that use technology to solve real-world challenges and build data and technology capacity and expertise in the public sector. Different types of government entities, including states, transit agencies, toll road operators and tribal governments, can apply for funding.
The SMART program will fund a wide range of technologies, including (1) coordinated automation of automated transportation and autonomous vehicles; (2) connected vehicles; (3) smart sensor-based infrastructure; (4) intelligent transportation systems with other existing systems and other The integration of advanced transportation technologies; (e) commercial distribution and logistics; (6) the use of innovative aviation technologies such as unmanned aerial systems to support transportation safety and efficiency, including traffic monitoring and infrastructure inspection; (7) the development of programmable and efficient energy sources Transmission and distribution systems to support the adoption or expansion of energy capture, electric vehicle deployment, or the fuel efficiency of freight or commercial fleets; (8) Smart technology transportation systems.
DOT will award planning and prototyping grants in the first round. Applicants must successfully complete planning and prototyping before applying for an implementation grant. Planning and prototyping grants will be up to $2 million per year, followed by annual implementation grants of up to $15 million per project. Program and prototyping grants do not require cost sharing.
DOT encourages recipients to collaborate with a wide range of public and private stakeholders for planning and prototyping to build internal support. At the end of the planning/prototyping phase, the recipient should have the information to create a fully realized implementation plan with performance indicators, or make an informed decision not to proceed with the implementation.
Projects must comply with federal and state laws, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations governing motor vehicles and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations governing aviation programs. DOT will consider a variety of factors, including data sharing, cybersecurity, and privacy policies. In particular, the DOT will consider the extent to which the project promotes public and private sharing of data and best practices and the use of open platforms, open data formats, technology neutrality requirements and interoperability to promote industry best practices regarding cybersecurity and technology standards , and protect personal privacy.
get a grant
As part of the ATTAIN program, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) within DOT will select 5 to 10 projects and enter into cooperative agreements of up to $12 million to deploy, install and operate public advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, Mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity and return on infrastructure investment. State and local governments, including tolling or port authorities and shipping agencies, are eligible applicants. A 20% cost-sharing match is required, which can include in-kind matches.
Funding can be used to deploy the following types of advanced traffic and congestion management technologies:
- Advanced passenger information system.
- Advanced transportation management technology.
- Advanced transportation technology to improve emergency evacuation and response.
- Infrastructure maintenance monitoring and condition assessment.
- Advanced public transportation system.
- Transportation system performance data collection, analysis and dissemination system.
- Advanced safety systems including vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure.
- Integration of intelligent transportation systems with smart grids and other energy distribution and charging systems.
- Integrated corridor management system.
- Advanced parking space reservation and variable pricing system.
- Electronic pricing, charging and payment systems.
- Technologies that improve toll lanes, cordon pricing, or congestion pricing for high-occupancy vehicles.
- Integration of payment systems for transportation services.
- Advanced technologies for mobile access and on-demand transportation services, such as dynamic ride-sharing and other shared-use mobile applications, and information systems that support human services for the elderly and disabled.
- Convert dedicated short-range communications technology deployed as part of an existing pilot program to cellular vehicle networking technology.
- Certain advanced transport technologies.
In clarifying eligibility, the FHWA noted in its funding opportunity notification that recipients can use the funds to purchase a self-driving vehicle, but must specify in the application whether the vehicle is subject to an exemption from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard or any other regulations and whether the project requires an exemption from the purchase. Requirements for U.S. products.
Contact information
If you have any questions about these funding opportunities, or need more information, please contact any of the following: