The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) is dedicating $15 million in federal funds to empower small businesses in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) applications to innovate within the US transportation realm. Launched on Friday, the initiative, named the Complete Streets AI project, falls under the Transportation’s Small Business Innovative Research Program. It targets the incorporation of AI and machine learning technologies to enhance transportation infrastructure.
This initiative is designed to support state and local governments by providing AI-powered decision-support tools for the planning and implementation of Complete Streets networks. A significant challenge it addresses is the lack of comprehensive traffic and sidewalk data in various US regions, which hampers efforts to upgrade local infrastructures.
To counter these data shortages, the USDOT plans to issue ten Phase 1 contracts to small businesses that can utilize automated data analytics for the nationwide establishment of Complete Streets. These projects will explore the use of internet-of-things technologies, as well as satellite, aerial, and street-level videography, combined with computer vision, to bridge the data gap.
Expected outcomes include the creation of interactive maps and visual tools to provide a clearer picture of current street usage, traffic patterns, and public mobility. The aim is for the resulting platforms to serve not just governmental agencies but also entities in the private sector, alongside non-profit and academic circles. Small businesses interested in participating must be aware of the pre-solicitation deadline set for March 1.
“Innovation in the AI and transportation sector is happening at unprecedented speed and has the potential to address some of our most pressing transportation challenges.
This funding supports our country’s small businesses and startups to harness cutting-edge technologies, deploy them in local communities, and make our streets safer.”
— Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
“Complete Streets are easier to plan with more complete data. This is a bold effort to build out that data along with the technology platforms that make it easy to use.”
— Robert Hampshire, principal deputy assistant secretary for research and technology and chief science officer
