Program Description
Contact: Office of Research, Demonstration, & Innovation 202-366-4052
The National Research and Technology Program (49 U.S.C. 5314(b)) addresses problems in the public transportation industry. FTA seeks to improve public transportation for America's communities by delivering products and services that are valued by customers and by assisting transit agencies in better meeting the needs of their customers. To accomplish these goals, FTA partners with the transportation industry to undertake research, development and education that will improve the quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of transit in America and lead to increases in transit ridership. The National Research and Technology Program responds to industry needs by supporting increased transit ridership, security readiness, and effective planning and oversight of major capital investments. It includes the development of innovative transit technologies such as bus rapid transit (integrating intelligent transportation system technology, operational strategies for speeding up bus service, and customer-friendly information and fare collection), safety and security research and technical assistance, and clean bus propulsion systems using hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid electric technologies. It also includes fundamental data collection and analysis of transit industry performance, policy studies, transportation planning techniques, and development of policies designed to further transit-oriented land-use. Other emphasis areas are: lower-cost and environmentally friendly vehicles, labor-management relations, customer service quality, equitable access, innovations in planning and infrastructure development, professional development, and mobility management.
Funds are allocated on a discretionary basis.
Program Summary Fact Sheet
The mission of this program is to partner with the transportation industry to establish preeminent transit service, technology and institutions that will increase the quality, reliability and cost-effectiveness of public transportation services in America and lead to increases in transit ridership. Important goals of this program are to:
- Increase personal mobility
- Improve homeland security
- Increase transit safety
- Reduce energy consumption, air pollution and dependence on imported petroleum
- Enhance the economic vitality of communities throughout America
Joint Partnerships
FTA enters into agreements with both public and private research organizations, transit providers, and industry to promote the early deployment of innovation in public transportation services, management, operational practices, and technology of broad applicability. Examples are:
- Developing industry guidelines and standards for incorporating security features in transit facilities, vehicles, communications systems, credentialing of workers, and access management
- Developing high-priority rail transit standards for commonality in design and operations
- Identifying and disseminating best practices for controlling costs and schedules for major transit construction projects.
Advanced Technologies
FTA assists the study, design, and demonstration of bus and bus rapid transit technologies, fuel cell-powered transit buses, rail and other fixed guideway technologies, and other types of technologies in development, such as urban magnetic levitation transit systems. The agency encourages, in particular, activities for reducing the life-cycle costs of vehicles, systems, and facilities. FTA is working to accelerate the commercial introduction of low-emission, high-efficiency transit vehicles, in direct support of the President’s hydrogen fuel initiative. Similarly, FTA is collecting, analyzing, and disseminating objective information on the performance of hybrid-electric and other clean-fuel buses, and is providing technical assistance to the National Park Service in planning and instituting transit systems in National Parks.
Research and Technology Program Areas
FTA national R&T encompasses several program areas, as follows:
Safety and Security
The goal of FTA's Safety and Security program is to promote public health, safety, and security by working toward the elimination of transit-related deaths, injuries and property damage and the improvement of transit security.
Technology: FTA conducts research to test and validate security technology that could be used in a transit environment and rapidly deployed, particularly technologies that will increase the readiness of transit agencies to prevent, reduce the impact of, and enhance the recovery from potential terrorist attacks.
Training and Technical Assistance: FTA is placing top priority on improving transit readiness for potential terrorist attacks, with particular focus on security training, public awareness and emergency preparedness, recognizing the importance of public transportation to emergency response and evacuation. FTA will continue to leverage the resources of the intelligence community, security professionals, the Department of Homeland Security, and others to strengthen our security efforts and frame new research initiatives to address a variety of needs identified through security assessments conducted during 2002 and 2003. Data collection and analysis as well as information dissemination are key activities. The information collected and provided by FTA is invaluable in providing a strategic direction for improving the safe operation of transit across the United States.
Equipment and Infrastructure
The goals of FTA's Equipment and Infrastructure program area are to decrease the use of imported petroleum, improve energy efficiency of transit operations, help protect the environment, and improve passenger service and comfort through technological development. FTA investigates means to power transit by “sustainable” sources of energy – sources that eliminate or minimize petroleum consumption and all forms of harmful emissions, not just by the vehicle but also by all the links in the energy “chain.”
Bus Equipment and Infrastructure: Development and testing of bus technologies support the outcome goals of reducing mobile source emissions and dependence upon imported petroleum. The effort utilizes a comprehensive approach to reducing bus emissions, through development, deployment, and dissemination of information and technology.
FTA is working to accelerate the commercial introduction of low-emission, high-efficiency transit vehicles, in direct support of the President’s hydrogen fuel initiative. Similarly, FTA is collecting, analyzing, and disseminating objective information on the performance of hybrid-electric and other clean-fuel buses, and is providing technical assistance to the National Park Service in planning and instituting transit systems in National Parks.
Rail and Other Fixed Guideway Systems: FTA’s goals in fixed-guideway transit technology are to identify and share cost-effective strategies to address critical issues of communications, security, and safety, and to provide a forum for transit construction engineers to regularly share information about current transit construction issues and solutions. FTA is committed to working with transit agencies identifying, developing and adopting management and control practices that contain cost growth and schedule slippage in major construction projects.
Fleet Operations
The FTA Fleet Operations program area supports programs to increase transit ridership through the identification, development, and implementation of cost-effective transportation solutions, such as bus rapid transit. These efforts involve the integration of vehicle technology, Intelligent Transportation Systems, coordinated services, traffic engineering enhancements, and innovative urban design. FTA emphasizes integration of emerging advanced technologies, such as new vehicle subsystems and ITS, to provide high levels of service and cost-effective system performance. BRT systems in several forward-looking cities will begin to reap the benefits of this integrated approach and provide high levels of service quality, energy efficiency, and congestion mitigation that will serve as benchmarks for the transit industry and communities everywhere. Specialized Customer Services
In support of the strategic goal of improving mobility and accessibility, FTA activities in the area of Specialized Customer Services are designed to improve services for low-income, elderly and other transit-dependent travelers, including persons with disabilities. Better services improve access to jobs, educational opportunities, health care, and other essential activities for those most in need of transit. In an effort to provide seamless customer service and eliminate costly duplication, the FTA is working with the Department of Health and Human Services and other sponsors of specialized services to coordinate and integrate them with services available to the general public. Research & Technology Program Support
This program area allows FTA to disseminate the results and products of research and technology programs and enhance management of ongoing FTA research and technology projects. The FTA support transit related activities of the Transportation Research Board, including its annual meeting, professional committee activities, and ongoing coordination and research dissemination through Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS). These activities support the strategic goals of mobility and economic growth and trade by developing and disseminating to the transit community knowledge of advanced transit technology and innovation. This area also include FTA’s participation in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program whose projects represent incubators of innovation. Metropolitan/Rural Policy Development
In support of the strategic goal of improving mobility and accessibility, this program area enables FTA to:
- Develop better estimates of transit’s condition, performance, and long-term investment needs;
- Identify and evaluate the benefits of transit;
- Conduct research into the relationships between transit and land-use planning;
- Expand testing of standardized onboard passenger surveys;
- Provide technical assistance to encourage the use and development of new and innovative financing techniques.
These activities allow the FTA to further refine national data on transit’s role and performance in serving the needs of passengers and communities, including transit’s role in providing basic mobility, relieving traffic congestion, and contributing to community vitality. Planning and Project Development
In support of the strategic goal of protecting and enhancing the human and natural environment, FTA supports institutional capacity building by documenting best practices and providing guidance, technical assistance, and training (including conference sessions and workshops) in planning and project development. These facilitate informed project selection by decision-makers at the State, MPO, and transit operator levels. FTA also completes project evaluations, produces reports on New Starts required by Congress, and prepares case studies for wide dissemination. FTA also promotes and disseminates information for planning professionals on innovative practices for coordinated land use/transportation planning to facilitate access, mobility and cost-effective capital investment strategies.
The FTA will continue efforts to streamline environmental approval processes through transit-specific measures, including peer-to-peer exchanges on environmental streamlining, the development of performance measures to promote environmental streamlining; the creation of tracking systems to monitor such activities; the identification of innovative mitigation measures for environmental impacts; and the identification and dissemination of best practices in the transit community.
Finally, the FTA will continue to provide a forum for ongoing training, information sharing, and discussion of lessons learned and ideas to improve the planning and project development process for major capital investments (New Starts Roundtables). Human Resources
The FTA’s efforts related to human resources provide assistance for meeting Federal requirements for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), and the DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) regulation. Performance and Review
The FTA conducts program evaluation activities required by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), including the development of data for benchmarking, documenting and assessing FTA’s progress in achieving strategic goals. These activities support DOT’s organizational excellence goal. International Mass Transportation Program
Under this program, the FTA promotes American transit products and services overseas, and cooperates with foreign public sector entities on research and development in the public transportation industries. Trade missions and other international gatherings enable American vendors to showcase their products and services, and facilitate technology transfer and information diffusion for developing nations. These activities support the Departmental goal of advancing economic growth and international competitiveness.
For details of these programs, see Initiatives and Technical Assistance.
Contact Information
Please submit questions or comments regarding the National Transit Research and Technology Program to: mailto:research@fta.dot.gov.
Barbara A. Sisson
Associate Administrator for
Research, Demonstration and Innovation, TRI-1
Federal Transit Administration
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4052
Tony Yen
Deputy Associate Administrator for
Research, Demonstration and Innovation, TRI-2
Federal Transit Administration
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4047
Walter Kulyk
Director
Office of Mobility Innovation, TRI-10
Federal Transit Administration
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4991
Director
Office of Technology, TRI-20
Federal Transit Administration
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4035
Lewis P. Clopton
Director
Office of Research Management, TRI-30
Federal Transit Administration
400 7th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-0235
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