FTA announces transit research grant opportunity

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) last week announced the availability of $5.1 million in competitive grant funding to support a new research initiative that will demonstrate advanced digital construction-management tools to improve management of transit construction projects.

FTA's Accelerating Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems program will promote field-tested advanced digital platforms to deliver transit projects faster and cheaper, FTA officials said in a news release.

Eligible grant applicants include transit agencies, private for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, state or local government entities and academic institutions. The successful applicant will identify and demonstrate at least two advanced digital-construction management systems and work with transit agencies to document best practices for applying the advanced digital construction-management tools for transit construction projects.

Also, in July, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched the Project Delivery Center of Excellence to help recipients of federal infrastructure funds deliver projects more efficiently and effectively, from concept to completion, the release said. The center will serve as a central resource for innovative practices and will bring project managers together to enable knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning.

Applications must be submitted online by Feb. 10, 2024.