TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) has issued a request for proposals to develop a toolkit of best practices, emerging platforms, and promising approaches to provide web- or electronic-based customer feedback as a means to help improve public transit services. Proposals are due July 10, 2012.

TRB’s Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) has issued a request for proposals to identify and document the motivations, benefits, and barriers to public transportation coordination and integration that facilitates seamless travel, and to provide guidance on how to integrate and coordinate delivery of a public transportation system in a multi-service region. Proposals are due July 20, 2012.

TRB’s Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) has released its annual program announcement that solicits funding proposals for the upcoming review cycles.  The announcement explains the IDEA programs, describes the types of eligible projects and their funding structures, suggests general areas for which IDEA proposals can be submitted, and provides guidelines and forms for submitting proposals. 

NCHRP Highway IDEA proposals for the next review cycle are due September 1, 2012.  Transit IDEA proposals for the next review cycle are due November 1, 2012.  Safety IDEA proposals for the next review cycle are due April 1, 2013.     

The IDEA programs provide start-up funding for promising, but unproven, innovations in surface transportation systems. The programs’ goals are to seek out and support new transportation solutions that are unlikely to be funded through traditional sources.

Top 3 Things Selection Committees Are Looking For in IDEA Proposals:
1. Innovation -- Emphasize the innovation. Say it first, say it fast, and make it clear. What problem does your project address? How is your solution better than current practice?
2. Benefits -- Describe the expected benefits. Why is this project worth investing in?
3. Science -- Stick to the science. Be sure the research approach is sound and sensible.