Opportunity Information: Apply for D2008 CBTC TRI 07
Apply for D2008 CBTC TRI 07
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) Before/After Cost Effectiveness Study" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.514 Public Transportation Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 7, 2008 and posted on Aug 1, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments Special district governments State governments County governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- For profit companies Public Transit Agencies
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Opportunity Summary:
The Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) Before/After Cost Effectiveness Study is a discretionary research funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Its purpose is to support a structured evaluation of what happens when a U.S. light rail or heavy rail system implements CBTC, focusing on measurable outcomes and cost effectiveness. In practical terms, the FTA is looking for proposals that can document conditions before CBTC is deployed and then compare those baseline conditions to results after implementation, so the industry can better understand what benefits are actually realized, what they cost, and under what circumstances those benefits are most likely to occur.
This opportunity would be awarded as one or more cooperative agreements rather than a simple grant. That matters because a cooperative agreement generally implies substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project, such as collaboration on scope, methods, milestones, reporting, and the use of findings. The funding is tied to public transportation research under CFDA 20.514, which signals a focus on producing findings that can be shared and applied across transit agencies, not just a one-off local study. The total estimated funding available is $200,000, with an award ceiling of $200,000 and no stated minimum award amount, meaning proposals could potentially be funded at less than the ceiling depending on scope and merit.
Eligibility is broad for public-sector and mission-driven organizations that can realistically access rail operations data and produce credible analysis. Eligible applicants include public transit agencies and for-profit companies, along with state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits). This mix suggests the FTA expects applicants to either be the rail operator itself or to partner closely with an operator, because a before/after CBTC evaluation depends on operational performance data, service plans, ridership patterns, maintenance records, safety and reliability data, and cost information that are not typically available without direct agency cooperation.
The project concept is centered on evaluating CBTC effectiveness on U.S. rail systems. CBTC is generally associated with more precise train location and control, improved headway management, and the potential to increase line capacity while maintaining or improving safety and reliability. A before/after cost effectiveness study typically aims to quantify changes in service performance (such as throughput, on-time performance, delays, or recovery from disruptions), operational impacts (like dispatching and supervision practices), maintenance impacts (including maintenance labor, failure rates, and lifecycle considerations), and potentially safety-related indicators. On the cost side, such studies often look beyond the initial capital cost to include implementation costs, integration challenges, training, ongoing software and communications support, and any changes to operating and maintenance expenses, with the goal of comparing costs to realized benefits over an appropriate period.
Key timing details reflect that this was a time-limited opportunity in 2008. The notice was posted on August 1, 2008, with a creation date of August 7, 2008. The application deadline was August 31, 2008, and the opportunity was archived on September 30, 2008. Applicants at the time would have needed to move quickly, which further reinforces that strong candidates likely already had access to relevant projects or planned CBTC deployments where baseline data collection could be done immediately or had already begun.
For further information, the opportunity points applicants to the FTA website for additional details, and provides a direct contact for assistance accessing the full announcement: Terrell Williams, Engineer, Federal Transit Administration, Office of Technology, at (202) 366-0232, located at 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, 4th Floor, East Building, Room E43-469, Washington, DC 20590.
Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) Before/After Cost Effectiveness Study - FAQs
What is the CBTC Before/After Cost Effectiveness Study funding opportunity?
It is a discretionary research funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to support a structured, data-driven evaluation of what happens when a U.S. light rail or heavy rail system implements Communications Based Train Control (CBTC). The emphasis is on measurable outcomes and cost effectiveness using a before-and-after study design.
What is the purpose of this opportunity?
The purpose is to document baseline conditions before CBTC is deployed and compare them to results after implementation, so the transit industry can better understand what benefits are actually realized, what they cost, and under what circumstances those benefits are most likely to occur.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
This opportunity would be awarded as one or more cooperative agreements, not as a simple grant.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for how the project will be run?
A cooperative agreement generally implies substantial involvement by the FTA during the project, such as collaboration on scope, methods, milestones, reporting, and the use of findings.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The funding is tied to public transportation research under CFDA 20.514.
How much funding is available?
The total estimated funding available is $200,000.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $200,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award amount is stated. Proposals could potentially be funded at less than the ceiling depending on scope and merit.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public transit agencies, for-profit companies, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits).
Does eligibility suggest applicants need access to rail operations data?
Yes. The study design depends on before-and-after operational and cost information, so realistic access to rail operations data and the ability to produce credible analysis are implied needs for strong applicants.
Do applicants need to be the rail operator to apply?
Not necessarily. Eligibility includes many organization types, but the description suggests the FTA expects applicants to either be the rail operator itself or to partner closely with an operator, since key data are typically not available without direct agency cooperation.
What kinds of rail systems are the focus of the study?
The focus is on U.S. light rail or heavy rail systems implementing CBTC.
What is CBTC in the context of this opportunity?
CBTC is generally associated with more precise train location and control, improved headway management, and the potential to increase line capacity while maintaining or improving safety and reliability.
What does "before/after" mean for this study?
It means documenting conditions before CBTC deployment (the baseline) and then measuring and comparing outcomes after CBTC is implemented, in order to quantify changes and relate them to costs.
What types of outcomes might be measured in a CBTC before/after evaluation?
The opportunity highlights measurable outcomes and suggests areas commonly evaluated, such as service performance (for example, throughput, on-time performance, delays, or recovery from disruptions), operational impacts (such as dispatching and supervision practices), maintenance impacts (including maintenance labor, failure rates, and lifecycle considerations), and potentially safety-related indicators.
What kinds of cost elements are relevant to the cost effectiveness portion?
The cost side often looks beyond initial capital cost to include implementation costs, integration challenges, training, ongoing software and communications support, and any changes to operating and maintenance expenses, with the aim of comparing costs to realized benefits over an appropriate period.
What is the main research deliverable implied by the announcement?
A structured evaluation that documents baseline (pre-CBTC) conditions and compares them with post-implementation results to support an assessment of benefits and cost effectiveness that can inform the broader transit industry.
How many awards does the FTA expect to make?
The notice indicates it would be awarded as one or more cooperative agreements, which means there may be multiple awards, but the exact number is not specified.
When was this opportunity posted and created?
The notice was posted on August 1, 2008, with a creation date of August 7, 2008.
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was August 31, 2008.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on September 30, 2008.
Where should applicants look for additional details?
The opportunity points applicants to the FTA website for additional details.
Who is the point of contact for assistance accessing the full announcement?
Terrell Williams, Engineer, Federal Transit Administration, Office of Technology.
What contact information is provided for the point of contact?
Phone: (202) 366-0232. Address: 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, 4th Floor, East Building, Room E43-469, Washington, DC 20590.
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