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About Transit IDEA

The Transit IDEA Program is part of the Transit Cooperative Research Program, a cooperative effort of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Transportation Research Board (TRB), and the Transit Development Corporation (a nonprofit educational and research organization of the American Public Transportation Association). The program is funded by the FTA and is managed by TRB.

The Transit IDEA panel has established four high-priority focus areas to encourage proposals in the following areas:
1. Increasing transit ridership
2. Improving transit safety, security, and emergency preparedness
3. Improving transit capital and operating efficiencies
4. Protecting the environment and promoting energy independence.
These focus areas are discussed further in the IDEA Program Announcement.

The program is guided and advised by a committee of experts who volunteer their time and service. The committee reviews proposals twice each year and selects those that make the greatest contribution to the objectives of the program.
All Transit IDEA projects are described in the Transit IDEA Annual Progress Report.

Suggested research focus areas, proposal evaluation criteria, and the forms for submitting proposals are provided in the IDEA Program Announcement, which is published in January of each year.

The TCRP IDEA Committee uses this evaluation form when reviewing proposals.
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