The Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) is an applied research program that develops near-term, practical solutions to problems facing public transportation. TCRP is sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and works in partnership with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The Transportation Research Board (TRB), a division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, manages TCRP.

Since 1992, TCRP’s Transit Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program has awarded over $9 million in funds to researchers exploring innovations that improve efficiency, safety, security, maintenance, and ridership of public transportation systems. The Transit IDEA program aims to foster the development and application of innovative technologies, methods, devices, and systems that advance public transportation practice. Awarded projects are early stage, promising but unproven concepts.

This first ever innovation report captures the story and impact of the Transit IDEA program, and features 9 projects spanning from 2004 to 2019. This visionary program is a major milestone in the broader history of innovation in the public transportation industry.

The final report is available.