The US Department of Transportation announced that it is accepting applications for two programs that will make approximately $160 million available annually for the next five years for projects that use technology to improve transportation infrastructure and make communities safer.
SMART Grant Program
The Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will offer up to $100 million in grants annually over the next five years and fund projects that use data and technology to solve real-world challenges facing communities today.
“As we undertake the most ambitious infrastructure investment in generations, thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we can and must plan for the transportation needs of the future,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “From connected vehicles that make driving safer to smart traffic signals that reduce congestion, to sensors to detect the quality of pavement to help prioritize repair, our SMART grants will fund technology that makes people’s lives better in communities across America.”
The SMART program will fund purpose-driven innovation and focus on building data and technology capacity and expertise. The Program seeks proposals from public sector entities that will carry out demonstration projects in the following domains to address critical transportation priorities:
- Vehicle technology, like automation and connectivity
- Systems innovation, like delivery and logistics, traffic signals, smart grid, and data integration
- And new ways to monitor and manage infrastructure, like sensors and UAS
The SMART Notice of Funding (NOFO) is open now and accessible at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=SMART. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on Friday, November 18, 2022. Eligible entities are state, local, and tribal governments and agencies. For more information, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SMART.
ATTAIN Grant Program
The Federal Highway Administration’s $60 million Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) program provides funding for transportation projects to improve safety and reduce travel times. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act added new evaluation criteria for ATTAIN applications — they will now be considered based on how they address climate change and the disproportionate effects of pollution on low-income communities.
“As we level the playing field and improve the travel experience for everyone, we need to promote the use of state-of-the-art technologies, and the ATTAIN program does just that,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack.”
The ATTAIN NOFO is accessible at www.grants.gov. State departments of transportation, local governments, transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and other eligible entities can apply. Applications are due by Friday, November 18, 2022. For more information, visit the FHWA website.
