USDOT opens notice of funding for vehicle technologies education program

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for academic and research institutions to educate policymakers on vehicle technologies.

A $600,000 grant is available to create the Interdisciplinary Transportation Law and Policy Technology Training Development program.

The 24-month cooperative agreement aims to “bridge the critical knowledge gap between fast-changing transportation technologies and our Nation’s policymakers, lawmakers, and legal counsel,” according to a bulletin from USDOT’s Office of the Under Secretary for Policy.

USDOT states that the primary objective of the program is to research, prioritize, and provide instructional materials on rapidly developing transportation technologies. It specifically mentions AI, automated vehicles (AVs), and the digital infrastructure that supports automation.

The selected applicant will be responsible for developing three educational tools:

• • A one-day training course for congressional and support staff;
  • A one-hour executive briefing for elected leaders and policymakers; and
  • A full-semester curriculum for law students planning to work in transportation policy.

The project is slated to result in regional pilot training sessions and the transfer of materials for future use, according to USDOT.

Eligible applicants are current DOT-funded University Transportation Centers (UTC) with capabilities in transportation law, transportation policy expertise, training and technology transfer curriculum development, and associated sciences and technology subject matter experts that covers the requested services, according to the post.

Applicants are required to provide matching funds of at least 50% of the total eligible project costs of the cooperative agreement.

The application deadline is Aug. 28.

On Wednesday, USDOT announced an investment of $1.73 billion into 127 projects in every U.S. state and territory as well as the District of Columbia, which it says will deliver critical roadway, transit, rail, maritime, and aviation infrastructure improvements.

Roughly 77% of the funding will be used to upgrade roads and bridges. Port improvements will be made with $136.8 million of the funds to “expand capacity, reduce bottlenecks, and help restore America’s maritime dominance,” according to a USDOT press release.

The release states that transit projects will receive $169.9 million in funding, while more than $11 million will be used on aviation infrastructure and $87.7 million on freight and passenger rail initiatives.

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