The Federal Transit Administration is providing a total of $1.37 million in research grant awards to six projects in six states via its Real-Time Asset Management Program – projects aimed at supporting infrastructure innovation in the transit industry.

[Above graphic via the FTA.]

The FTA said that primary goal of the Real-Time Asset Management Program is to enhance asset management of infrastructure and safety by deploying innovative technologies that can provide real-time condition assessment of transit capital and facilities.

As a result, it characterizes this program is an “opportunity” for transit agencies to assess, detect, monitor and track deficiencies related to infrastructure and evaluate the cost-effectiveness and practicality of proposed state-of-the art solutions.

“FTA is leveraging cutting-edge technology to better maintain our nation’s transit assets, which will improve safety for both riders and front-line workers,” explained K. Jane Williams, FTA’s deputy administrator, in a statement.

“These innovative new designs will help transit systems maintain a state of good repair, which is particularly important during the COVID-19 public health emergency,” she added.

Among the projects receiving a share of this tranche of FTA research grant money is the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Transit Administration, which is getting $150,000 to initiate an electronic inventory of its light-rail system to monitor, detect and identify track deficiencies.

That project will enable MTA to maintain a more accurate assessment of its light rail system, FTA said.