Project 1-1. Designing Tools for Assessing Readiness of Rural Communities for New Technologies

PIs: Jerry Everett (UTK), Asad Khattak (UTK); Sudhagar Nagarajan (FAU); Venktesh Pandey (NCAT)

Duration:  08/01/2023 to 07/31/2025; Funding: $799,000 (Federal: $380145; Non-Federal: $418,855); Status: Completed

Project 1-2. Rural Healthcare and Transportation Deployment Planning

PIs: Andrew Martin (UKY),  Steven Jones (UA), Evangelos Kaisar (FAU), Laquanda Leaven (NCAT), Jun Liu (UA)

Duration: 08/01/2023 to 07/31/2025;  Funding:  $527,052 (Federal: $269,856; Non-Federal: $257,196); Status: Completed

Project 1-3. Benefit-Cost Analysis of Rural CAV Deployment

PIs: Jun Liu (UA)

Duration: 08/01/2023 to 07/31/2025; Funding: $412,917 (Federal: $255,715; Non-Federal: $157,201); Status: Completed

Project R1-4. Community-Assisted Rideshare Service (CAReS) for Rural Communities

PIs: Abhay Lidbe (UA), Drew Pearl (UA), Daniela Susnara (UA), Jun Liu (UA), Steven Jones (UA) 

Duration: 01/15/2024 to 06/30/2025;  Funding: $150,180 (Federal: $74,960; Non-Federal: $75,220) ; Status: Completed

Project R1-5. The Efficiency and Affordability of Automated Vehicle Passenger Services in Rural and Under-Served Communities

PIs: Gregory D. Erhardt, (UKY)

Duration: 01/15/2024 to 07/14/2025;  Funding: $100,000 (Federal: $50,000; Non-Federal: $50,000) ;  Status: Completed

Project R1-6: Connecting Rural Populations that have Disabilities to Automated Vehicle Technology for Improved Access and Mobility

PI: Asad J. Khattak

Duration: January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026;  Funding: $150,000 (Federal: $75,000; non-Federal: $75,000);  Status: Active

Project 1-1-2: Techniques for Assessing Community Technology Readiness for Rural Development: Planning for Community Readiness Using Digital Twins   

PIs: Asad Khattak (UTK), Usman Ahmed  (UTK); Jerry Everett (UTK); Sudhagar Nagarajan (FAU); Venktesh Pandey (NCAT), Xu Zhang (UKY)

Duration: 06/01/2025 to 05/31/2027; Funding: : $687,651 (Federal: $268,619; non-Federal: $419,032); Status: Active

Project 1-2-2: Customizing Transportation Services and Technologies Based on Rural Patient Healthcare Needs    

PIs: Andrew Martin (UKY), Laquanda Leaven (NCAT), Evangelos Kaisar (FAU), Abhay Lidbe (UA), Zihe Zhang (UA)

Duration: 08/01/2025 to 07/31/2027;  Funding:  $244,908 (Federal: $125,876; Non-Federal: $119,033); Status: Active

Project 1-3-2: Data-Driven Policy Guidance for CAV Deployment in Rural Southeastern Communities

PIs: Praveena Penmetsa (UA), Reginald Souleyrette (UKY), Steven Jones (UA), Evangelos Kaisar (FAU)

Duration: 01/02/2026 to 05/31/2027; Funding: $4323,023 (Federal: $185,280; Non-Federal: $137,743); Status: Active

Project 2-1: Cost-Effective and Reliable Data and Communication Infrastructure for Enhancing Rural Transportation Safety and Efficiency  

PIs:  Wayne Sarasua (CU), Mi Geum Chorzepa (UGA); Mashrur Chowdhury (CU); Evangelos Kaisar (FAU); Hossein Sarrafzadeh (NCAT); Linbing Wang (UGA); Jidong J. Yang (UGA) 

Duration: 08/01/2023 to 06/30/2026; Funding: $1,565,364 (Federal: $736,984; Non-Federal: $828,380); Status:  Active

Project 2-3: Developing Connected Microtransit Vehicles for Efficient Mobility Service for Rural Communities

PIs: Ali Karimoddini (NCAT), Maranda McBride (NCAT), Pamela Murray-Tuite (CU), Zhen Ni (FAU) 

Duration: January 1, 2025  to 7/31/2027 ; Funding: $2,184,531 (Federal: $811,127; Non-Federal: $1,373,404); Status: Active

Project R2-4: Enhancing Automated Vehicle Operation and Safety on Rural Roads Areas: Challenges and Innovative Solutions

PIs:  Subhadeep Chakraborty (UTK) and Asad Khattak (UTK)

Duration: 01/15/2024 to 7/31/2025; Funding: $150,000 (Federal: $75,000; Non-Federal: $75,000); Status:  Active

Project R2-5: Rural Road Infrastructure Assessment and Enhancement for Autonomous Vehicle Deployment 

PIs: Tesfamichael Getahun (NCAT), Handong Yao (UGA), Qianwen Li (UGA)

Duration: Jan 1, 2025 to March 30, 2026;  Funding: $200,000 (Federal: $100,000; non-Federal: $100,000); Status: Active

Project 3-1: Optimal and Safe Route for Freight Transportation in Rural Areas  

PIs:  Evangelos Kaisar (FAU), Mei Chen (UK), Zhen Ni (FAU), Venktesh Pandey (NCAT) 

Duration:  08/01/2023 to 06/30/2025; Funding:  $458,045 (Federal: $254,414; Non-Federal: $203,631) ; Status: Completed

Project 3-2: Community-Oriented and Data-Driven Mobility Modeling for Rural and Disconnected Communities   

PIs:   Venktesh Pandey  (NCAT), Stephan Durham (UGA), Jun Liu (UA), Rongfang Liu (NCAT), Sudhagar Nagarajan (CU), Jennifer Ogle (CU), Jidong J. Yang (UGA) 

Duration:  08/01/2023 to 07/31/2026 ;  Funding: $1,319,368 (Federal: $565,972; Non-Federal: $753,396) ; Status: Active

Project R3-3: An Analysis of Demand Response Transit (DRT) Travel of the Elderly, Women and the Disabled in Rural Areas: Implications for Future DRT Systems for All

PI: Candace Brakewood (UTK) 

Duration: 01/15/2024 to 07/14/2025; Funding: $150,928 (Federal: $75,000; Non-Federal: $75,928); Status:  Completed

Project R3-4: Developing Regional Integration for Vital Experiences by Strengthening Mobility, Access, and Regional Transit (DRIVE-SMART)

PIs: Abhay Lidbe (UA)

Duration:   Jan 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026;  Funding: $141, 486 (Federal: $70,743;Non-Federal: $70,743);  Status: Active

Project 3-1-2: Enhancing Rural Freight Resilience in the Southeastern U.S.: Data-Driven Modeling and Decision Support for Supply Chain Efficiency  

PIs:  Evangelos Kaisar (FAU)

Duration: 06/01/2025 to 05/31/2027; Funding: $357,657 (Federal: $155,228; non-Federal: $202,429); Status: Active  

Project R3-5: Data to Deployment: A Toolkit for Evaluating Microtransit Service in Rural Communities

PI:  Venktesh Pandey (NCAT)

Duration:  Jan 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026;  Funding:  $140, 000 (Federal: $70,000;Non-Federal: $70,000) ; Status: Active

Project R-EWD-1: Advanced Mobility Innovation Lab

PI:  Jerry Everett (UTK)

Duration:   01/15/2024 to 01/14/2025;  Funding:  $100,000 (Federal: $50,000; non-Federal: $50,000); Status:  Completed

Project R-EWD-2: Multi-State Assessment of Advanced Mobility Innovation Lab

PI:  Jerry Everett (UTK)

Duration:   04/01/2025 to 07/31/2026;  Funding:  $100,000 (Federal: $50,000; non-Federal: $50,000);  Status:  Active

Project R-EWD-3: Advanced  Mobility Innovation Lab (AMIL) and Beyond

PI:  Jerry Everett (UTK)

Duration: 08/01/2026 to 07/31/2027; Funding:  $100,000 (Federal: $50,000; non-Federal: $50,000); Status: Upcoming