The Kansas Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the fall 2024 round of the agency’s Innovative Technology Program. The Innovative Technology Program provides financial assistance to governmental and non-governmental organizations for innovative transportation-related projects that promote safety, improve access or mobility and implement new transportation technology. “Innovative technology” is broadly defined as any technology that does not currently exist in the local community of the project. This allows local communities to determine what projects to submit based on their specific needs. All transportation system projects are eligible, including roadway (on and off the state system), rail, aviation, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), bicycle/pedestrian, public transit, software and technology infrastructure. Candidate projects should include investments that provide transportation benefits and are not eligible for other KDOT programs. This round of grant funding has an overall budget of $2 million, with a maximum awarded amount of $1 million per project. A project concept must be submitted and approved by KDOT before an application is provided to the applicant. The project concepts deadline is Nov. 17, and the application deadline is Nov. 30. A facts sheet is available on the program at https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/divInnovTech/Innovative_Technology_FactSheet.pdf. For the project concept submission form, go to https://forms.microsoft.com/g/FThTTFKQ5s. Both documents are on KDOT’s internet. A few past approved projects include Truck Driving Simulators for the CDL Program expansion at Seward County Community College, an AI-Based Road Condition Assessment in the City of El Dorado and a UAS Flight Operations and Simulation Center for Kansas State University – Salina.
Source: Emporia Gazette
