FTA unveils 'AIM' grants to fund transit innovation

U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Acting Administrator K. Jane Williams yesterday announced the Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) initiative, which will provide $11 million in challenge grants to help transit agencies explore new service models.

The initiative's goal is to encourage innovation in the industry by promoting new approaches to improving transit system design, service and financing, FTA officials said in a press release.

AIM grants will be detailed in an upcoming FTA notice of funding opportunity. The initiative will establish a national network of transit agencies that will test and share project results, and use FTA technical assistance centers to promote promising innovations.

In addition, FTA's fiscal-year 2020 competitive grant programs, which will total $615 million, will highlight innovation as part of their selection criteria, FTA officials said.

"We need to continue to innovate to keep pace with today's fast-changing transportation network" said Williams.