Public Transportation Innovation

FY2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS - PROJECTS PLANNED IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2025 under the Public Transportation Innovation Program include:
1)In FY 2025, the program produced a wide range of research products supporting transit agencies in operational, safety, accessibility, and customer service improvements. Deliverables included 37 research reports, 33 synthesis reports, 8 web-only documents, 6 legal research digests, and 3 early-stage innovation reports. Practical, data-driven guidance highlighted effective practices for improving service and system performance. The oversight committee met twice to review progress, receive project updates, and discuss completed efforts on commuter rail, substance use impacts, tactile wayfinding, and intermodal facility planning. These results demonstrate ongoing progress in producing timely, applicable research that addresses key industry needs.
2)In FY 2025, the program advanced transit vehicle modernization and adoption of next-generation technologies by evaluating bus specifications, identifying cost drivers, and developing performance-based specifications to improve procurement, reduce lifecycle costs, and enhance reliability. State of the Market Reports, based on interviews with 20 transit agencies, analyzed safety and technology trends, including fire detection, propulsion testing, operator and maintenance training, and heating systems. These findings provide practical, data-driven guidance to improve vehicle safety, system performance, and support informed fleet investment decisions.
3)In FY 2025, the program advanced the use of digital tools to improve transit construction project delivery. Following a competitive selection process, one recipient was chosen from an estimated 6–10 applications and partnered with FTA to launch a national working group of 25–30 transit agencies, industry experts, and technology practitioners. The project produced a roadmap with step-by-step guidance and model workflows for adopting digital construction management tools, including 3D/4D modeling, cloud-based platforms, and data-driven safety monitoring. Key accomplishments include 1–2 pilot concepts showing up to a 30% reduction in reporting time, a catalog of best practices from over 40 organizations, and initial training materials to help agencies transition to fully digital workflows. These efforts provide a foundation for more efficient project management, faster information sharing, and improved outcomes for riders and communities.
4)In FY 2025, the program advanced efforts to address transportation insecurity by supporting community-designed solutions that improve transit reliability. Following a national competition with an estimated 15–20 applicants, one program administrator was selected. The program awarded eight grants: four communities received about $700,000 each to launch demonstration projects, and four rural communities received about $100,000 each for planning—totaling roughly $3.6 million in support. Recipients completed planning, community engagement, and early design work that identified reliability gaps and developed tailored solutions such as redesigned routes, demand-responsive connections, mobility coordinators, and digital tools for real-time updates. Early findings suggest potential reductions in missed trips by 10–20% and commute time improvements of up to 15%, with more than 1,000 residents engaged across all project locations. As required, each project will undergo an independent evaluation, with approximately eight evaluations expected to measure impacts on mobility, access to essential services, and overall community well-being.
5)In FY 2025, the program advanced demonstrations of automated technologies designed to improve the safety and efficiency of transit bus yard operations. Five competitively selected projects began testing automated systems for parking, docking, inspections, and controlled yard movements, including a major demonstration that completed about 325 test cases—roughly 200 with a supervising operator and 125 without—showing high reliability in low-speed maneuvers. Across all projects, hundreds of automated scenarios were executed, multiple prototype tools were integrated into active yards, and early metrics suggested potential reductions of 10–15% in vehicle positioning time, along with fewer low-speed incidents. Workforce engagement efforts identified training needs for technicians and operators, while technical findings highlighted areas for improving sensors, communications, and real-time decision-making. Looking ahead, an additional 3–5 test campaigns and up to 500 automated test sequences are expected in FY 2026, with independent evaluations assessing impacts on safety, operations, costs, and workforce readiness.

FY2026 Accomplishments - PROJECTS EXPECTED TO BE FUNDED IN FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2026 under the Public Transportation Innovation Program include:
1)In FY 2026, the program is expected to maintain a strong level of production, with an estimated 25–30 completed research products across major report types. The oversight committee will continue meeting twice during the year—once to select approximately 10–12 new research topics and once to assess program progress and hear 3–4 project presentations. Anticipated FY 2026 results include research focused on improving safety, enhancing accessibility, supporting workforce needs, advancing innovation, and strengthening the overall customer experience. These outcomes are expected to provide actionable tools and guidance that help agencies address emerging challenges and improve transit service.
2)A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be released, and it is anticipated that 22 applications will be received, with 4 awards granted, representing a selection rate of approximately 18 percent. Awarded recipients are expected to implement demonstration projects that test and evaluate innovative solutions in their target communities. These projects will advance understanding of program goals, generate data on performance and effectiveness, and produce lessons learned to guide future efforts and potential broader adoption.
3)In FY 2026, the program is anticipated to advance demonstrations of innovative transportation solutions in communities seeking to strengthen local economies. A Notice of Funding Opportunity is expected to be released, with approximately 20 applications anticipated and 2–3 awards granted, representing a selection rate of roughly 10–15 percent. Awarded projects will test new mobility services, such as on-demand transit and digital scheduling platforms, designed to improve access to jobs, services, and markets. Recipients will engage local stakeholders, develop operational and safety guidelines, and provide workforce support to ensure successful adoption of the services. Demonstration projects will collect data on key economic indicators, including employment impacts, local tax revenue, and private investment leveraged or planned, providing actionable evidence on the effects of transportation interventions. These anticipated results will generate lessons learned and best practices to guide future demonstrations and support broader adoption of innovative mobility solutions in underserved or difficult-to-serve communities.
4)In FY 2026, funding will support the development and demonstration of new bus safety and accessibility features that can be retrofitted onto existing vehicles or incorporated into new designs, with a focus on improving protection for operators and passengers and expanding accessibility for riders with diverse needs. A competitive funding opportunity is expected to receive about 20 applications, with 3–5 projects selected to design, test, and evaluate prototypes, retrofits, and operational systems through real-world demonstrations. Anticipated results include tested safety and accessibility innovations, quantitative data on safety outcomes, new guidance and training materials for transit agencies, and lessons that inform broader adoption and future investments—all aimed at strengthening the safety, accessibility, and efficiency of transit operations.
5)In FY 2026, funding is expected to support demonstrations that enhance transit safety, security, and efficiency through advanced technologies and best practices for monitoring and maintaining critical assets. Key anticipated activities include releasing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), selecting recipients, and awarding grants, with approximately 10 applications expected and 2 awards granted, or a 20 percent selection rate. Awarded projects will deploy and test innovative monitoring technologies, predictive maintenance tools, and operational systems to improve infrastructure reliability and reduce service interruptions. Demonstrations may involve real-world testing of sensors, automated alerts, and safety protocols, as well as development of training and guidance materials. These projects are expected to generate data on performance, safety, and asset reliability, providing lessons and best practices to guide broader adoption of technology-driven safety and asset management solutions.