Rural Autonomous Vehicle Program
Government document
In December 2023, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Rural Autonomous Vehicle Research Program. It is a six year cooperative-agreement funding opportunity open to accredited universities. Research will focus on “benefits and responsible application of automated vehicles and associated mobility technologies in rural and Tribal communities.” The award funding will be allocated in two parts, with $15 million allocated for passenger transportation research and $10 million for research on freight and delivery vehicles. The program announcement highlights the potential for automated vehicles to address disparities in mobility and economic opportunity in rural and Tribal communities.