In the latest grant competition, 34 centers were awarded out of 230 applications submitted. Among those, 169 applications were for Tier 1 University Transportation Centers, of which only 20 were selected. The C2SMART Center (of which the BUILT Lab is belongs) was one of those.

In this renewal, the center is now “Connected Communities for Smart Mobility Toward Accessible and Resilient Transportation for Equitably Reducing Congestion” (C2SMARTER). New consortium members include CUNY NYCCT, NCAT, and Texas Southern U. The research priority has also shifted from Improving Mobility of People and Goods to Reducing Congestion. The funding amount is $2M per year, up to $10M over the next five years. Congrats to the team!

https://www.transportation.gov/utc/bil-centers-and-grantees

NYSDOT solicited the help of Dr. Chow and the BUILT Lab at C2SMART in 2020 to conduct research in preparing first a Request for Information (RFI) and then an RFP. The goal of the RFP was to upgrade the current 511NYRideshare program into a next generation statewide program that would encompass more advanced technological capabilities and allow for emerging mobility options like micromobility, microtransit, carshare, mobility hubs, etc., making way for Mobility-as-a-Service.

Through the RFP process, NYSDOT successfully awarded a $29 million contract to global consulting and technology services provider ICF (NASDAQ: ICFI) to evolve this program. The press release for the award can be found on ICF’s page: https://www.icf.com/news/2023/02/new-york-state-awards-icf-29-million-transportation-contract.