USDOT launches $2.5 million climate and transport research initiative

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has unveiled a significant funding opportunity that aims to propel the nation towards cleaner, more sustainable transportation systems. The Climate and Transportation Research Initiative, funded at $2.5 million for its first year, seeks to establish a partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and a university or other eligible organisation dedicated to researching and developing solutions to the pressing climate and transportation challenges faced by the U.S.

Secretary Buttigieg said: “In the past few months alone, Americans from Vermont to Hawaii have faced the devastating impact of so-called ‘once-in-a-century’ disasters that are now becoming more frequent, more deadly and more destructive to our economy than ever. As we face the profound and urgent threat of the climate crisis, we need cleaner transportation systems, and this investment will help deliver that by harnessing research and technology to find new solutions.”

The Climate and Transportation Research Initiative‘s primary objective is to advance research and technologies that support the nation’s clean energy goals, strengthen the resilience of the transportation infrastructure and mitigate the environmental impacts caused by the transportation system. This ambitious initiative is set to usher in a new era of innovation, with the aim of transforming the way Americans move, commute and interact with their environment.

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Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Science Officer, said: “When it comes to climate change and transportation, research and technology have a lot to bring to the table. This unprecedented funding opportunity will help us advance climate solutions for the entire transportation sector.”

The funding opportunity will provide $2.5 million for the first year to a university or non-profit organisation that is selected as the primary partner. In addition, at least one partner organisation will also receive funding. The partnership can be renewed for a total of five years, with the potential for receiving up to $2.5 million in each of the following years, subject to the availability of funds.

This initiative underscores USDOT’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis and signifies the government’s dedication to fostering innovation and collaboration in the pursuit of cleaner and more sustainable transportation solutions.