WASHINGTON, [Today’s Date] – The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has officially opened its application process for the second installment of the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. With a funding pool of up to $500 million over five years, the initiative aims to pioneer smart community technologies that bolster transportation efficiency and safety.
This robust move is in line with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which President Biden endorsed on November 15, 2021. The SMART program is especially geared towards assisting State, local, and Tribal governments in navigating the challenges of integrating modern transportation technologies.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg emphasized the value of these emerging technologies, stating, “New technologies like connected vehicles, smart traffic signals, and more have the potential to make our transportation system dramatically safer and more efficient.” However, he also highlighted that many public entities are not yet ready to maximize these technological advances.
In this round of funding, the emphasis will be on Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants. These are targeted at not only solving transportation conundrums but also equipping governments with data and technology prowess. Acknowledging the challenges public sector agencies face in resource allocation and manpower, the program offers added time and support for successful technology deployment.
Interested public sector participants should focus on technology areas such as coordinated automation, connected vehicles, innovative aviation, smart grid, traffic signals, and more.
Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Scientist at USDOT, reflected on the success of the inaugural SMART grants, underscoring their transformative impact on safety, transit innovation, and public space management.
For those keen on learning more, USDOT is organizing a webinar titled “How to Apply for an FY23 SMART Grant” on Thursday, August 17 at 2pm ET. This session will offer insights into the SMART Grants Program, application details, and success stories from the program’s maiden year.
Applications are currently open and can be sourced from the SMART Grants Program website. The submission deadline is set for 5:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, via the Valid Eval platform.
