Yesterday two new sponsors for S 652, the Moving and Fostering Innovation to Revolutionize Smarter Transportation (Moving FIRST) Act, were announced. The new sponsors are both members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, the Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This increases the chances of the bill being considered in Committee.
The two new sponsors are:
• Sen Rosen (D,NV), and
• Sen Warnock (D,GA)
Last month Sen Cortez-Masto introduced S 652, the Moving and Fostering Innovation to Revolutionize Smarter Transportation (Moving FIRST) Act. The bill would require DOT to “establish the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Challenge Grant Program to promote technological innovation in our Nation’s communities”. This is a follow-on program to the DOT’s Smart City Challenge program.
Section 4 of the bill would authorize DOT is provide four grants per year through FY 2026. The grants could by used for projects that demonstrates a sound, innovative, integrated, and holistic approach and incorporates many aspects of the following ‘vision elements’ {§4(e)(1)}:
• Intelligent,
sensor-based infrastructure,
• Low
cost, efficient, secure, and resilient information and communications
technology,
• User-focused
mobility services and choices,
• Commerce
delivery and logistics,
• Leverage
the use of innovative aviation technology,
• Strategic
business models and partnering opportunities,
• Smart
grid, roadway electrification, and electric vehicles,
• Synchronization
of technology, and
• Connected, involved citizens.
Agencies requesting grants will document an effective use of technology, including the extent to which the project will {§4(d)(3)}:
• Reduce congestion and delays for
commerce and the traveling public,
• Improve the safety of
transportation facilities and systems for pedestrians, bicyclists, and the
broader traveling public,
• Provide access to jobs,
education, and essential services, including health care and educational and
training opportunities,
• Connect underserved populations
and reduce their transportation costs,
• Contribute to medium- and
long-term economic competitiveness,
• Improve the condition,
reliability, and user experience of existing transportation facilities and
systems,
• Promote connectivity between
connected vehicles, roadway infrastructure, pedestrians, bicyclists, the
public, and transportation systems,
• Use innovative strategies or
technologies to pursue any of the primary selection criteria,
• Demonstrate strong collaboration
among a broad range of participants, including the private sector, job centers,
or the integration of transportation with other public service efforts,
including working with existing mobile and fixed telecommunication service
provides whenever possible,
• Improve the overall environment,
including through improved energy efficiency, reduced dependence on oil, or
reduced pollution,
• Promote or improve positive
public health outcomes for a community,
• Increase resiliency of the
transportation system,
• Incorporate relevant security
solutions, including those needed for cybersecurity [emphasis added], and
address emergency situations based on the scope and necessity,
• Include sufficient technical,
physical, and administrative measures to ensure security of information and
protection of individuals’ privacy, and
• Address issues identified by the Department of Transportation in the Beyond Traffic 2045 report.
Section 6 would authorize $100 million per year for the grant program, not more than $2 million of which may be used by DOT for program costs.
Cortez-Masto is not a member of the Commerce, Science, and Technology Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration, but one of her cosponsors {Sen Sinema (D,AZ)} is. This means that there may be enough influence to have this bill considered in Committee. Grant programs like this generally face little programmatic opposition; figuring out where the funds will come from is a likely stumbling block.
A grant program like this is hardly the place to clearly explicate the necessity for, or composition of, a transportation cybersecurity program, so I suppose that we should be happy that cybersecurity is specifically mentioned as one of 13 technology measures that that will be used as criteria for approving a very limited number of grants. To increase the emphasis on cybersecurity, however, I would like to suggest the following changes to §4(d)(3):
“(B) improve the safety and
security of transportation facilities and systems for pedestrians,
bicyclists, and the broader traveling public;
• • •
“(G) promote the secure connectivity
between connected vehicles, roadway infrastructure, pedestrians, bicyclists,
the public, and transportation systems;”
Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in session, there were 116 bills introduced. Two of those bills may see additional coverage in this blog:
S 651 A bill to amend SAFETEA-LU to improve the Intelligent Transportation System Program Advisory Committee, to require information and resources for the development of local smart communities, to help establish a 21st century transportation workforce, and for other purposes. Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
S 652 A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to establish the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Challenge Grant Program to promote technological innovation in our Nation's communities. Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
I will be watching both bills for language and definitions
that indicate that transportation cybersecurity concerns are being addressed.
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