The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it is accepting applications for two programs that will provide about $160 million annually over the next five years for projects that use technology to improve transportation infrastructure and make communities safer.
Smart Grant Program
The Enhancing Mobility and Transforming Transportation (SMART) Grants Program, facilitated by the bipartisan Infrastructure Act, will provide up to $100 million in annual grants over the next five years and fund projects that use data and technology to address real-world challenges facing communities today.
“If we make the most ambitious infrastructure investment in generations, we can and must plan for future transportation needs thanks to the President’s bipartisan infrastructure law,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “From connected cars that make driving safer to smart traffic lights that reduce congestion to sensors that detect road surface quality to help prioritize repairs, our SMART grants will fund technologies that make life better for people in communities across America.”
The SMART program will fund purpose-driven innovation and focus on building data and technology capabilities and expertise. The plan seeks advice from public sector entities that will develop demonstration projects in the following areas to address key transportation priorities:
- Vehicle technologies such as automation and connectivity
- System innovations such as delivery and logistics, traffic signals, smart grids and data integration
- and new ways to monitor and manage infrastructure such as sensors and UAS
The SMART Notice of Funding (NOFO) is now open and can be accessed at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=SMART. The application deadline is Friday, November 18, 2022 at 5:00 pm. Eligible entities are state, local and tribal governments and agencies. For more information, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SMART.
Get Grant Program
The Federal Highway Administration’s $60 million Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) program funds transportation projects to improve safety and reduce travel times. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act adds new evaluation criteria for ATTAIN applications – which will now be considered based on how they address climate change and the disproportionate impact of pollution on low-income communities.
“If we are to level the playing field and improve the travel experience for everyone, we need to promote the use of state-of-the-art technology, and the ATTAIN program does just that,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack.
ATTAIN NOFO Available at www.grants.gov. State departments of transportation, local governments, transportation agencies, urban planning organizations and other eligible entities may apply. The application deadline is Friday, November 18, 2022. For more information, visit the FHWA website.