On October 5, 2020, the Federal Transit Administration (“FTA”), announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for $10 Million in Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grants. The FTA’s announcement follows a series of FTA-hosted listening sessions in which public transit agencies asked the FTA to support research to “identify solutions to address the operational changes transit agencies are facing as a result of COVID-19.”
The COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grants are designed to assist transit agencies in developing, deploying, and demonstrating innovative solutions to improve the operational efficiency of transit agencies and improve the mobility of transit users. Eligible projects will focus on the following four areas:
- Vehicle, facility, equipment and infrastructure cleaning and disinfection
- Exposure mitigation measures
- Innovative mobility such as contactless payments
- Measures that strengthen public confidence in transit services
More information on the grant application process is available on the FTA’s website, here. FTA will host two webinars on the COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grants on dates to be announced. Applications are due November 2, 2020.
If you have any questions please contact Charles Spitulnik, Allison Fultz, T. Byron Smith, or Suzanne Silverman.
