Transportation technology and innovation projects around the country are moving forward to better understand traffic management, advance easier payment procedures for transit, expand the use of autonomous on-demand transportation and more.

Some $52.8 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been awarded to eight projects as part of the Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) program…

Similarly, the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grants, awarded by the U.S. DOT as part of the infrastructure initiative, has made $94 million available for 59 projects spread across 33 states. The SMART program focuses its grant awards to public agencies conducting demonstration projects using technology to help improve safety and or efficiencies.

All of the grantees are for Stage 1 planning and prototype grants, which will have an opportunity to apply for Stage 2 implementation grants, said Ben Levine, senior adviser of research and technology at U.S. DOT, speaking at the Urbanism Next conference in Portland, Ore., in April.