The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has applied for $5.5 million in Fiscal Year 2023 grants from the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) program according to Mass.gov.
The SMART program was established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to explicitly foster technological advances that can transform the transportation sector. According to its press release, MassDOT plans to use the funding for three projects led by the Rail and Transit Division and Aeronautics Division, in collaboration with the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office (FFIO).
The Rail and Transit Division's $1.32 million proposal focuses on utilizing artificial intelligence, edge computing, and advanced sensors to strengthen surveillance of railroad corridors against trespassing and deploying a dynamic warning system as stated in Massachusetts Department of Transportation press release.
The Aeronautics Division seeks funding for a drone-based monitoring system, asking for nearly $2 million in SMART funds. Their proposed system aims to use drones for inspecting vegetation and assessing weather-related risks near the MBTA Commuter Rail lines, with the goal of hazard mitigation and maintaining efficiency in rail track management.
Additionally, the Aeronautics Division seeks nearly $2 million further in funding. The division intends to develop a drone-based delivery service for home-based healthcare patients, with a specific focus on senior citizens and disadvantaged individuals.
Director Quentin Palfrey of the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office stated that applications to the SMART grant program form a vital facet of their government-wide strategy to compete for the historic federal investments made in transportation, energy, technology, and more.
Although the final decision on funding approval for MassDOT's SMART grant applications is to pending, the benefits they can bring serve as an indication of a promising future in transportation innovation.
