Dec. 2 (UPI) — The U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced 15 semifinalists for its recently unveiled innovation challenge and million-dollar prize to improve U.S. transportation infrastructure.
The public was asked to identify a “critical transportation infrastructure challenge” through the transportation department’s “ideas challenge,” which was described as seeking out “bold, transformative solutions” to help America’s aging infrastructure, improve traffic safety and cut costs.
“These projects represent the best and brightest, next generation ideas to propel us forward,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a statement.
Some received 448 concepts were submitted, according to DOT officials.
It named Lacy Greening of Arizona and Wisconsin’s Sikai Chen and Xiaopeng Li, Yang Lu of Idaho, UCLA’s Mobility Lab in California, the University of Utah, Colorado State University, the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, TruNav, Llc out of Illinois, New York-based MetaRE Inc, Arup and Tip & Cue, Inc.
In addition, the University of Tennessee’s Chattanooga and Oak Ridge campuses, CNA Corporation and Leidos from Virginia, ARCTOS Technology Solutions, Llc in Ohio and the Numobility, Texas Transportation Institute in Georgia.
In August, the Trump administration’s transportation department launched its new million-dollar idea challenge targeted at the future of American transportation and infrastructure initiatives targeted at reducing department operating costs and improving overall public safety.
The open-call challenge to U.S. innovators in both public and private sectors was presented as an opportunity to “transform” the future of American transportation.
In stage two, semifinalist winners will be eligible to submit a detailed proposal. Up to 10 will be selected to advance to the ARPA-I Ideas Challenge Finals next year.
On Tuesday, Duffy stated he “could not be more excited for the future of transportation as America prepares to celebrate our 250 years of excellence.”
