U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced a funding opportunity to establish the U.S. DOT Climate and Transportation Research Initiative funded at $2.5 million for the first year.

The funding supports a partnership between U.S. DOT and a university or other eligible organizations to conduct research advancing solutions to the Nation’s climate and transportation challenges.  

"In the past few months alone, Americans from Vermont to Hawaii have faced the devastating impact of so-called ‘once-in-a-century' disasters that are now becoming more frequent, more deadly, and more destructive to our economy than ever,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “As we face the profound and urgent threat of the climate crisis, we need cleaner transportation systems, and this investment will help deliver that by harnessing research and technology to find new solutions.”

The Climate and Transportation Research Center

The Climate and Transportation Research Center will advance research and technologies to support the nation’s clean energy goals, strengthen the resilience of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, and address environmental impacts created by the transportation system.

“When it comes to climate change and transportation, research and technology have a lot to bring to the table,” said Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, deputy assistant secretary for research and technology and chief science officer. “This unprecedented funding opportunity will help us advance climate solutions for the entire transportation sector.”

The funding opportunity will fund a university or nonprofit and at least one partner organization for $2.5 million in year one, and up to $2.5 million in years two and three, subject to availability of funds. The partnership can be renewed for a total of five-years, totaling $12.5 million, subject to availability of funds. 

For more information on the U.S. DOT Climate and Transportation Initiative Funding Opportunity, reach out to ClimateResearch@dot.gov.