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National Research Programs
20.514
The Federal Transit Administration's Research, Development, Demonstration, Deployment, Cooperative Research, Technical Assistance, Standards Development, and Human Resources and Training programs are authorized at 49 U.S.C. 5312, and 5314 and collectively seek to develop solutions that improve public transportation. Its primary goals are to increase transit ridership, improve safety and emergency preparedness, improve operating efficiencies, protect the environment, promote energy independence, and provide transit research leadership; develop and conduct workforce development activities, training and educational programs for Federal, State, and local transportation employees, United States citizens, and foreign nationals engaged or to be engaged in public transportation work; and to sponsor development of voluntary and consensus-based standards to more effectively and efficiently provide transit service, as well as support the improved administration of Federal transit funds. To accomplish this, FTA funds projects to support research and development, demonstration, deployments of various technologies and operational models for transit; a national cooperative research program, a national training institute, national technical assistance centers, and transit workforce development programs. The Public Transportation Innovation program (49 U.S.C. 5312) supports research, development, demonstration, deployment, and evaluation projects. Research projects in this area are not generally undertaken by the private sector including studies on transit policy issues, operational efficiency, and travel behavior. These projects will promote the use of clean energy and air quality improvement. The program also funds long-term, high-risk, high-potential payoff investigations of new technologies, which is critical to developing a public transportation system that is efficient, attractive, and reliable. The majority of the funds (75 percent) appropriated under 49 U.S.C 5338 to support this section, must be used for a discretionary Low and No Emission deployment program. The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) (49.U.S.C 5312) funds shorter-term research projects that address immediate operational issues facing the transit industry. These projects are designed to identify immediate improvements in transit safety, equipment and system design, system operations, and the economic development impact of transit investments, among other topic areas. These funds are typically awarded to the National Academies of Science which has managed the TCRP since its inception in 1992. The Technical Assistance and Standards (49 U.S.C. 5314) funds support provide resources and direct assistance to support compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), human services transportation coordination requirements, the transportation needs of elderly individuals, increased transit ridership, transportation equity needs, and any other technical assistance activities deemed necessary by FTA, such as improvements in safety and asset management. The Human Resources and Training program (49. U.S.C 5314) awards grants to transit agencies and other entities for workforce development programs and projects.
This chart shows obligations for the program by fiscal year. All data for this chart was provided by the
administering agency and sourced from SAM.gov, USASpending.gov, and Treasury.gov.
For more information on each of these data sources, please see the
About the data page.
FTA continued to implement new programs and manage active programs in accordance with current Federal Public Transportation Law and FTA’s research vision that innovative technologies, projects, partnerships, and world-class Infrastructure promote economic growth, productivity, safety, and improve quality of life in communities. FTA’s research mission is to advance public transportation innovation by leading research, development, demonstration, deployment, evaluation, and implementation practices and technologies that, enhance effectiveness, increase efficiency, expand quality, promote safety, and ultimately improve the transit rider’s experience. FTA awarded agreements for research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects, and evaluation of research and technology of national significance to public transportation that improves public transportation in our nation.
Projects were chosen through a new transparent, participatory, and consensus oriented planning process. Also, as there is a five-year authorization, FTA is developing a five-year strategic plan. Following are top accomplishments for FY 2016, and for further information on FY 2016 research projects and their accomplishments please see the 2016 FTA annual research report which can be found at the following URL: https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/fta-annual-report-fy-2016-public-transportation-innovation-research-projects-fta
To support infrastructure capital investment innovations, FTA established a new testing program to assess low or no emission vehicle (LoNo) components. The program provides assessments of low- or no-emission vehicle components, documenting (at a minimum) the maintainability, reliability, performance, structural integrity, efficiency, and noise of the tested components and continues FTA’s legacy of supporting the transit industry in the introduction of advanced technologies to reduce the energy consumption and emissions of transit buses. FTA selected The Ohio State University and Auburn University to receive research funds to conduct the program. Both universities will conduct testing, evaluation, and analysis of low or no emission (LoNo) components intended for use in LoNo transit buses used to provide public transportation.
To enhance safety in public transportation systems, the Safety, Resiliency, and All-Hazards Emergency Response and Recovery Research Demonstrations (SRER) Program carried out by FTA continued to work with grantees who are developing and testing new innovative technologies in safety. One example is the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) project that is mitigating the risks of one of the most hazardous roles in rail transportation – inspecting and maintaining track and wayside infrastructure. MARTA partnered with Bombardier to deploy six miles of TrackSafe technology on MARTA’s rail system to improve track worker safety and reduce hazards associated with track inspection, maintenance, and repair. The technology alerts track workers to the presence of an approaching train, and train operators and control center staff to the specific location of workers. FTA is also leading projects to develop safety standards and improve safety culture in collaboration with national industry experts.
Mobility innovations were accomplished through the Ride to Wellness Program aimed which is seeking to increase access to care, improve health outcomes, and lower healthcare costs through increased partnerships between public transportation and health providers. To help agencies identify ways to utilize automation, an active FY 2016 project is developing materials to help in the planning and executing of U.S. DOT-sponsored transit automation development and demonstration projects. And, the Accessible Transportation Technology Research Initiative (ATTRI) is researching innovative technologies that can increase independence and mobility for people living with disabilities.
A yearly statutory program in Section 5312, is the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP): with the National Academies of Science. This cooperative agreement funded transit research activities as recommended by the TCRP Oversight and Project Selection (TOPS) Committee, an independent governing board for TCRP. For more information on the projects funded and major accomplishments for TCRP, please see their annual report at the following URL: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/TCRPAnnual2016.pdf
FTA held a Workforce Development Summit in Washington, DC on June 7, 2016. The meeting was attended by 45 representatives of current active grantees and former FTA recipients, allowing discussions focused on the workforce challenges facing the public transportation industry, innovative projects conducted by grant recipients, collaboration opportunities and the importance of partnerships, funding opportunities, and performance measurement.
FTA funds the National Transit Institute Program (NTI), and over the last NTI delivered 322 training courses throughout the U.S. to 7,738 participants with an average cost per course of about $13,000 and an average cost per participant of approximately $580. In addition, NTI conducted 120 sessions of All Hazards Awareness and Preparedness for Transit Employees in preparation for Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California in February 2016, with 1,437 staff of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) trained. The National Transit Institute (NTI) continued its focus to develop and deploy training programs for the public transportation industry. NTI held a workforce summit on behalf of FTA, and over a year period fielded over 300 courses training over 7,200 people.
In FY 2016, FTA continued to fund two technical assistance centers: the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC), and the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM),
Accomplishments for the NADTC in 2016 included developing online courses on Section 5310 and other areas; awarding eight community grants; holding five webinars, launching a new website with useful materials that benefit older adults, individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and public transportation providers; and supporting 800# inquiries through the Eldercare Locator. Additionally, the NADTC provided targeted technical assistance in response to locally-identified challenges.
NCMM supported FTA by funding $400,000 in planning grants to 16 communities for the development of innovative solutions to healthcare access transportation challenges. Local coalitions of cross-industry providers, including consumers, spanning the healthcare, transportation, human service, and other industries, developed replicable strategies to enhance access to preventive, dialysis, behavioral health, and post-hospitalization care. NCMM also organized and hosted Peer Exchanges in Baltimore and Austin (Texas), allowing transit agencies and MPOs an opportunity to learn from each other about effective transit planning. The NCMM also continued to provide support to communities and shared best practices around the field of mobility management and in the area of coordinated planning.
1) The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) provided technical assistance across all FTA regions anddeveloped useful technical assistance products to promote mobility management, conducted research, presented at meetings, and helped agencies problem-solve. Examples include: NCMM assisted the American Cancer Society with a community partnership strategy in key southern regional metropolitan areas, and assisted with transit system/governance information and general mobility; and managed and provided technical assistance to 16 Healthcare Access Mobility Design Challenge grantees. 2) National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). Accomplishments included the development of online courses and training materials to assist Section 5310 recipients and sub-recipients with providing transportation services to benefit older adults and people with disabilities. Project also conducted a community grant program, developed webinars and maintained a website with useful materials that benefit older adults, individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and public transportation providers.
3) The National Transit Institute delivered 270 training courses throughout the U.S. to 7,298 participants. 4) The Transit Cooperative Research Program managed 52 active projects; completed 14 publications and updated its Strategic Plan for marketing and dissemination. 5) FTA funded work to develop a Safety Standards Strategic Plan and Data Collection Strategy which included publication of a resource document for the public transportation industry with transit safety standards and protocols and a report titled “ “Review and Evaluation of Public Transportation Safety Standards.”
6) Innovative Safety, Resiliency, and All-Hazards Emergency Response and Recovery (SRER) Program The SRER Program developed innovative approaches to eliminate or mitigate safety hazards, improve infrastructure resiliency, and improve all-hazards emergency response and recovery. FTA funded 12 projects under SRER in 9 states to explore solutions in three areas: (1) operational safety; (2) infrastructure or equipment resiliency; and (3) all-hazards emergency response and recovery methods. Under operational safety, SRER is developing and testing new or substantially improved technologies, methods, practices, and techniques to reduce the risk of transit-related injuries and fatalities for transit workers and riders.
Information is in new assistance listings 20.530 and 20.531.
Data is available under assistance listings 20.530 and 20.531.
Data is available under assistance listings 20.530 and 20.531.
Data is available under assistance listings 20.530 and 20.531.
Data is available under assistance listings 20.530 and 20.531.
Data is available under assistance listings 20.530 and 20.531.
Data is available under assistance listings 20.530 and 20.531.
Single Audit Applies (2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F):
For additional information on single audit requirements for this program, review the current Compliance Supplement.
OMB is working with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and agency offices of inspectors general to include links to relevant oversight reports. This section will be updated once this information is made available.
