U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $15.8 Million in Grant Awards
January 20, 2021
On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced 37 projects nationwide will receive a share of $15.8M to support strategies to improve #transit operations and enhance the mobility of transit users affected by the #COVID19 public health emergency.
SEPTA, in partnership with Drexel University, will receive funding to evaluate air ventilation and surface cleaning in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. This project is designed to improve passenger safety and strengthen public confidence to return to mass transit during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
"These additional resources will provide transit agencies and the states with the additional resources to strengthen public confidence in transit, which remains among the safest modes of travel during the public health emergency," said FTA Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams. "Our support will help leverage new technologies that will improve safety and efficiency throughout our transit systems."
The Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Program will help invest in and promote promising, innovative solutions that address the challenges transit agencies are facing during the public health emergency. Selected projects include solutions such as implementing new cleaning and disinfecting protocols, contactless payment systems and modernized data collection and reporting on ridership, vehicle capacity and other factors to improve agency decision-making, transparency and increase rider confidence.
FTA received 104 eligible proposals totaling approximately $63 million in funding requests from 36 states and territories. Project proposals were evaluated based on criteria outlined in the COVID-19 Research Demonstration Program Notice of Funding Opportunity.
