Ten projects in nine states have been awarded $9.1 million through two initiatives at the U.S. Department of Transportation designed to support safety and innovation in the transit industry.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the funds through the Safety Research and Demonstration Program and the Bus Operator Compartment Program.
"This $9.1 million federal investment will help transit agencies across America advance new technologies that will enhance safety and benefit transit riders," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
FTA's Safety Research and Demonstration Program is part of a larger safety research effort at the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides technical and financial support for transit agencies to pursue innovative approaches to eliminate or mitigate safety hazards.
FTA's Bus Operator Compartment Program supports the redesign of transit bus operator compartments to improve safety for bus operators and the passengers they serve.
"FTA is committed to working with the transit industry to improve the safety of our nation’s public transportation systems," said FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams. "These innovative new designs and projects will protect transit employees and passengers, as well as improve the overall safety and reliability of the service."
The projects selected to receive funding include:
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will receive $1.18 million for a pilot project to install new safety features for the electrified third rail at Oakton Skokie Station. The rail, which powers CTA subway cars, will be buffered and feature warning labels, improving safety for transit riders and rail maintenance crews.
The International Transportation Learning Center based in Silver Spring, Md., will receive $1 million to redesign a transit bus compartment to improve safety for drivers. By designing a barrier, the compartment will minimize operator assaults and maintain positive passenger interactions through mirrors and lighting.
The Maryland Department of Transportation will receive $675,000 to expand its track warning and detection pilot program to five additional stations in the Baltimore Metro system. The technology will instantly alert train operators when someone is on the tracks.
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in Philadelphia, Penn., will receive $742,000 to install an automated employee protection system, allowing transit workers to enhance their safety while working on the tracks.
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) in New Orleans, La., will receive $600,000 to study the implementation of shields/barriers on its bus fleet to protect bus operators. NORTA will work with its bus operators to secure feedback on the implementation of this project.
Rutgers University in New Jersey will receive $357,072 to research and analyze trespasser detection at New Jersey Transit highway rail crossings to reduce fatalities. New Artificial Intelligence technology will gather data and help transit agencies develop trespasser avoidance solutions.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York, N.Y., will receive $3.45 million to research state-of-the-art bio-mechanics modeling to help save lives with modern, energy-absorbing materials to reduce injuries and fatalities following collisions involving people and trains.
The city of Charlotte, N.C., on behalf of the Charlotte Area Transit System, will receive more than $56,000 to install signs and develop a safety public education campaign for the CityLYNX Gold streetcar line. The project will educate riders and residents about the importance of pedestrian safety along the route.
TriMet in Portland, Ore., will receive $825,506 to design a risk ranking evaluation tool for rail crossing safety improvements, including upgrading cameras to document risks and incidents at grade crossings on its MAX light-rail system.
The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) in Salt Lake City, Utah, will receive $224,000 to identify strategies to prevent and mitigate suicides along UTA's FrontRunner commuter rail system and TRAX light-rail corridors.
FTA received 10 eligible proposals in 10 states for the Safety Research and Demonstration Program totaling approximately $8.46 million, and two eligible proposals in two states for the Bus Operator Compartment Program totaling approximately $1.6 million. Project proposals were evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Safety Research and Demonstration Program Notice of Funding Opportunity and the Bus Operator Compartment Program Notice of Funding Opportunity.
