U.S. Department of Transportation’s SMART Grant Aids Innovative Pilot Study of Drone Technology for Real-time Traffic Analysis
(March 21, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration has been awarded a $1.6 million federal grant to study work zone speed data using innovative drone technologies in the Baltimore area as part of its goal to reduce speeds and increase safety. The grant is from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Program, which supports technology to improve transportation efficiency and safety.
The SMART grant advances an innovative State Highway Administration study of work zone speed management using drones as well as roadside sensors and other data. Because they offer a bird’s-eye view, drones can provide early warning of traffic congestion and bottlenecks. That information can help officials make real-time adjustments that increase safety, help traffic flow efficiently, provide equitable access and protect highway workers and the public.
“The State Highway Administration will continue to explore new technologies and tools to help us protect highway crews and the traveling public. The combination of sensors and drone-based data could provide us with unprecedented insight to make our roadways safer for all,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “In addition to our technology enhancements, we ask that drivers stay alert, move over, drive sober and be aware of reduced speed limits in work zones.”
The State Highway Administration, which will focus on work zones along I-695, will conduct the study in collaboration with the University of Maryland.
One year ago, on March 22, 2023, six workers lost their lives in a work zone crash on I-695 (Baltimore Beltway). Nationwide, there have been more than 100,000 work zone crashes annually since 2018, resulting in thousands of fatalities and hundreds of thousands of injuries.
“Improving the safety of our communities, customers and transportation workers is our top priority, and this requires broad collaboration and innovative ideas,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This SMART grant award will greatly enhance our efforts to make our work zones safer.”
The grant is among 34 awards totaling $50 million announced March 15 for projects across the country. The SMART grants program was established by the Biden Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and provides $500 million over five years for state and local projects.
In addition to the State Highway Administration grant, the Maryland Transit Administration received $1.27 million for cloud-based transit signals along four Baltimore-area bus lines, and the Maryland Department of Planning received $1.76 million to explore using drones for medical deliveries on the Eastern Shore.
The Maryland Department of Transportation continues to actively pursue federal grant opportunities to assist in funding state and local transportation needs and has resources available to help partners and stakeholder groups apply for federal grants.
The department’s Federal Grant Information website offers information on open grants, webinars, advice for applicants and a mailing list to keep all parties up to date. Counties, local jurisdictions and other partners are encouraged to follow the page and sign up for the mailing list. For details, contact Sean Winkler at swinkler1@mdot.maryland.gov.