FTA to provide $7.3 million in transit-rail safety research grants

Rail News Home Passenger Rail 2/14/2020 Rail News: Passenger Rail
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has made available $9.3 million in research funding for projects aimed at improving transit-rail and bus operator safety, the agency announced yesterday. The funding includes $7.3 million for projects that demonstrate and evaluate new technologies, safer designs and practices to improve transit-rail safety; and $2 million for projects that redesign bus operator compartments to improve safety for bus operators and their passengers, FTA officials said in a press release. Two notices of funding opportunity (NOFO) were published this week in the Federal Register. Under the Safety Research and Demonstration Program 2020 NOFO, the $7.3 million will go toward research projects that mitigate trespassing hazards on transit-rail systems and improve the operational safety of shared corridor fixed guideway systems, including grade crossing safety. The NOFO also will support innovative projects that demonstrate advanced technologies to improve transit-rail safety. Proposals are due March 24. Eligible applicants include public transportation providers, state and local government entities, nonprofit organizations and colleges. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria listed in the NOFOs, FTA officials said. “We are committed to working with the transit industry to improve the safety of our nation’s public transportation systems,” said FTA Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams. “We look forward to supporting innovative new designs and projects that will better protect transit employees and passengers alike, as well as improve the overall safety and reliability of the service.”