SPI Insights

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation is accepting applications for two programs that will make approximately $160 million available annually for the next five years.

The first program is the new Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program. The SMART Grants Program will offer up to $100 million in grants annually over the next five years and will fund projects that use data and technology to solve real-world challenges. 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 key transportation priorities:

• Vehicle technology, like automation and connectivity.
• Systems innovation, like delivery and logistics, traffic signals, smart grid, and data integration.
• New ways to monitor and manage infrastructure, like sensors and UAS.

The second program is the Federal Highway Administration’s $60 million Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) program to promote advanced technologies to improve safety and reduce travel times for drivers and transit riders and that can serve as national examples. ATTAIN-eligible projects will be evaluated on how they consider climate change and environmental justice impacts – including how they reduce transportation-related air pollution and address the disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged communities. In addition, projects are evaluated on their economic impact and potential to create jobs.

Applications for both programs are due by November 18, 2022. The SMART Program seeks state, local, and tribal governments and agencies. The ATTAIN Program seeks state departments of transportation, local governments, transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and other eligible entities.