The transit cooperative research program (TCRP) conducts applied research and produces timelyreports and other tools useful to public transportation professionals

The Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration awarded the National Academy of Sciences a $7.212 million cooperative agreement on June 25, 2026, to support the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) under the Public Transportation Innovation program (CFDA 20.530).

TCRP conducts applied research and produces reports and tools for public transportation professionals, addressing a broad spectrum of concerns including facilities, vehicles, equipment, service concepts, operations, maintenance, human resources, administrative practices, funding and finance, and planning and policy. The program identifies transit problems requiring research and development investigation, establishes priority rankings among them, provides opportunities for transit operators, local government officials, construction organizations, financiers, real estate developers, and community representatives to identify problems and participate in developing solutions, and improves communications and technical information transfer across the transit industry. Results inform decision-making and introduce innovation to benefit transit providers, riders, and the public.

The National Academy of Sciences, operating through its Transportation Research Board as TCRP secretariat, organizes and manages annual solicitations, convenes committees, and disseminates research findings. Performance occurs in Washington, DC. The award runs through May 31, 2031. Recipients must update statements of work and submit current-year budgets annually to continue receiving support; extensions beyond the award period require amendment approval by FTA. Awards are contingent on execution of the award agreement and establishment in FTA's e-Invoicing system. The organization must comply with the DOT Public Access Plan, including a required Data Management Plan.

Activities

The objectives of the transit cooperative research program are as follows: to identify transit problems in need of research and development (RD) investigation and to establish a priority ranking among them. To provide an opportunity for transit operators local government officials and many other constituencies including construction organizations financiers real estate developers and community representatives to identify problems and participate in developing appropriate solutions. To improve communications technical information transfer and exchange; and to provide a means of addressing a variety of near-term transit problems in cooperation and in coordination with the federal program on transit research.

Expected outcomes

The transit cooperative research programs mission is to promote select and conduct research anddisseminate findings of research to improve the practice and performance of public transportation.

Intended beneficiaries

The national academy of sciences engineering and medicines (NASEM) transportation researchboard acts as secretariat to tcrp as outlined in the application including organizing and managing theannual solicitation of problem statements and their preparation for consideration by the topscommission. TRB will convene project panel meetings appoint expert technical panelists to definethe project work statement and guide the research; develop and distribute a request for proposals; andthen process and evaluate proposals to select the best qualified research organization to perform thework. Additionally TRB will conduct and follow-up on decisions resulting from meetings of the topscommission; administer the cooperative agreement and third-party contracts; provide quarterlyprogress reports financial reports and final close-out reporting to FTA; and disseminate the results oftcrp projects widely through on-line reports the tcrp website webinars social media and otherdissemination mechanisms.

Subrecipient activities

Tcrp apta FTA and other organizations and stakeholders will plan a mini summit to discuss what is possible and how to meaningfully address turning research into practice.