The Innovative Technology Program provides financial assistance to governmental and non-governmental organizations for innovative transportation-related projects that promote safety, improve access or mobility and implement new transportation technology.

“Innovative technology” is broadly defined as any technology that does not currently exist in the local community of the project. This allows local communities to determine what projects to submit based on their specific needs.

All transportation system projects are eligible, including roadway (on and off the state system), rail, aviation, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), bicycle/pedestrian, public transit, software and technology infrastructure. Candidate projects should include investments that provide transportation benefits and are not eligible for other KDOT programs. This round of grant funding has an overall budget of $2 million, with a maximum awarded amount of $1 million per project.

A few past approved program projects include: A pedestrian warning system with radar speed signs in the city of Little River; traffic signal upgrades allowing for vehicle-to-infrastructure communication on Greenwich Road in the city of Wichita; and a performance measurement system for the Mid-America Regional Council, in coordination with Operation Green Light.

A project concept must be submitted and approved by KDOT before an application is provided to the applicant. The deadline to submit project concepts for consideration this program year is Nov. 17 and the application deadline is Nov. 30. A facts sheet is available on the program at https://www.ksdot.gov/Assets/wwwksdotorg/bureaus/divInnovTech/Innovative_Technology_FactSheet.pdf. The project concept submission form is available at https://forms.microsoft.com/g/FThTTFKQ5s. Both documents are also on KDOT’s homepage.

Please contact Matt Stormer, [email protected], with any questions.