U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced today that 52 projects in 37 states will receive approximately $474 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants this year from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
Among these, 25 projects funded at $123.4 million are designated for projects in rural areas of the country, including $1,451,450 for the Minnesota DOT to install intersection conflict warning systems at 15 rural, stop-controlled intersections across the state. The warning system will inform vehicles of intersection conflicts so drivers can better judge gaps in traffic, significantly reducing the potential for collisions at intersections with the warning system. ITS America recognized the project with our Smart Solution Spotlight award for its innovative use of technology to improve rural highway safety.
The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority was awarded $10 million to enhance Bus Rapid Transit services by installing equipment to give buses signal priority at intersections along high traffic corridors. The city will also install new bus shelters, pedestrian improvements and other ITS devices (such as real-time bus arrival and departure signs) throughout the transit system.
Florida International University (FIU) will receive $11,397,120 to support an innovative package of technology, streetscaping and transit improvements to connect the FIU campus with the town of Sweetwater with the goal of increasing access to jobs and linking two portions of campus that are currently disconnected. TIGER funds will be used to construct a new pedestrian bridge over a busy arterial road, and to utilize ITS technology to help students, university staff and community members move efficiently to and through the FIU campus via an advanced electronic way finding system. This unique combination of computing technology, transit station improvements and pedestrian-oriented infrastructure is expected to increase transit ridership and reduce congestion.
Several other projects also utilize ITS, including the I-20/Vicksburg Mississippi River Bridge rehabilitation project, which will use advanced technologies to monitor bridge conditions and incidents for more effective traveler and freight movement.
“These transformational TIGER projects are the best argument for investment in our transportation infrastructure,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Together, they support President Obama’s call to ensure a stronger transportation system for future generations by repairing existing infrastructure, connecting people to new jobs and opportunities, and contributing to our nation’s economic growth.”
The highly competitive TIGER program offers one of the only federal funding possibilities for large, multi-modal projects that often are not suitable for other funding sources. These federal dollars leverage money from private sector partners, states, local governments, metropolitan planning organizations and transit agencies. Applications for this most recent round of grants totaled more than $9 billion, far exceeding the $474 million set aside for the program.
Source: ITS America (September 5, 2013)
