Technology Transfer

The International Mass Transportation Program (IMTP) carries out activities to inform and educate the American public transportation industry about international best practices and technologies.

Examples:

• In March 2000, FTA led a tour to Germany and Belgium to study European practice in track sharing – safely operating rail transit vehicles on the same track as freight and passenger trains. It included the signing of a Declaration of Cooperation in the Field of Mass Transit with the German Ministry of Transport, Building, and Housing.
• In September 2000, FTA examined the transit operations of the Sydney Olympics to prepare for events such as the Salt Lake City Olympics.
• In November 2000, FTA led a mission to Western Europe to examine new bus technologies.
• In December 2000, FTA led a study tour to Curitiba, Brazil to examine Curitiba’s highly developed Bus Rapid Transit system. This activity was the first step under the Letter of Intent signed by FTA and the Governor of Paraná, Brazil, during the Department’s Latin American Trade Mission in October 1999.
• In May 2001, the FTA led a fact-finding mission to New Zealand to examine competitive sourcing of transit services.
• In May 2007, FTA organized the 5th International Workshop on Public Transportation in Moscow Russia.  The workshop, which was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Transportation of the Russian Federation and the City of Moscow, provided a forum through which US and Russian transportation officials could share information and experiences in various area of public transport, including project planning and financing, new transit technology, access for the elderly and disabled, and training tomorrow’s transit workforce.
• FTA has continued to engage in technology transfer activities with countries such as France, Japan, and Korea through annual bilateral meetings.