FY25-FY26 Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN)

The Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation Competitive Grant Program is administered by the Federal Highway Administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation. This federal initiative is designed to support the deployment, installation, and operation of advanced transportation technologies across the United States. The program builds upon statutory authority under federal transportation law and is funded through allocations for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. It emphasizes improving safety, mobility, system efficiency, infrastructure performance, and intermodal connectivity, while also enhancing the return on investment in transportation systems. The primary purpose of the program is to accelerate the adoption of innovative transportation and congestion management technologies. Eligible projects include a wide range of applications such as advanced traveler information systems, intelligent transportation systems, vehicle to vehicle and vehicle to infrastructure communications, automated vehicle technologies, and integrated corridor management. Additional eligible activities include advanced public transportation systems, congestion pricing technologies, real time data systems, and mobility solutions such as ridesharing and on demand services. The program is structured to promote both technological innovation and practical deployment that delivers measurable benefits to transportation networks. Funding for this opportunity totals up to one hundred twenty million dollars across the two fiscal years, with up to sixty million dollars available per year. There is no minimum award amount, but individual awards are capped at twelve million dollars per recipient per fiscal year. The program anticipates making between five and ten awards annually, depending on funding availability and project scope. Projects are expected to be completed within a performance period generally ranging from one to four years. Funding is provided on a cost reimbursable basis, meaning recipients are reimbursed for eligible costs incurred after execution of a grant agreement. A key requirement of the program is a non federal cost share of at least twenty percent. Applicants must demonstrate that they can meet this requirement through state, local, or private funding sources. Additionally, only a limited portion of funds, up to five percent, may be used for planning and reporting activities. The program also includes domestic preference requirements, including compliance with Buy America provisions for materials and construction, and expects recipients to address cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience considerations as part of project planning and execution. Eligible applicants include a broad set of public and quasi public entities such as state and local governments, transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and other political subdivisions. Multijurisdictional partnerships and consortiums of research or academic institutions are also eligible, provided they designate a lead applicant responsible for financial administration. Applications must include detailed plans for deployment, long term operations and maintenance, partnerships, and leveraging existing investments. Required submission materials include standard federal forms and a program specific application template submitted through Grants.gov. Applications are evaluated based on merit criteria including alignment with infrastructure priorities, economic competitiveness, congestion reduction, and innovation. Additional consideration is given to project readiness, including technical feasibility, financial completeness, and permitting risk. The application process requires electronic submission through Grants.gov, with strict adherence to formatting and documentation requirements. The application window opened on June 26, 2026 and was extended through amendment to close on August 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Award announcements are anticipated in late September 2026. Following award selection, recipients must comply with federal reporting and administrative requirements, including semi annual progress and financial reports, as well as annual performance reporting. The program also requires ongoing compliance with federal regulations and policies governing financial assistance. Overall, this grant program represents a significant federal investment in advancing transportation innovation, supporting projects that deliver measurable improvements in safety, efficiency, and economic outcomes across the national transportation system.

Align project clearly with merit criteria including infrastructure improvement, congestion reduction, and innovation; provide strong readiness documentation and measurable outcomes