693JK42650002
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
The TRAVELS RAV Cooperative Agreement awards $15,000,000 in federal funding to the University of Wisconsin Madison, matched dollar-for-dollar by the recipient for a total project value of $30,000,000, to conduct research, demonstration, and deployment of rural and tribal autonomous passenger transportation over a 72 month period with the goal of improving safety, mobility, and livability while addressing rural challenges such as weather, varying road types, connectivity, work zones, and infrastructure constraints.
Award purpose: This agreement funds the Tribal & Rural Autonomous Vehicles for Efficiency, Livability and Safety (TRAVELS) program at the University of Wisconsin Madison to develop, test, demonstrate, and transition highly automated passenger transport solutions suitable for rural and tribal communities.
Activities to be performed: Program management and implementation planning, including staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and partner coordination.
Five major task areas: Needs assessment, policy and regulatory analysis, and RAV system architecture and CONOPS development.
AV demonstration and testing in rural settings (including components integration, field tests, and digital/roadway infrastructure support).
AV deployment, before-and-after impact assessment, monitoring, and planning for sustainable operations.
Public outreach, workshops/webinars, technology transfer, and multimedia engagement.
Evaluation, feedback, publication of best practices/case studies, sustainability planning, and a final project report.
Real-world activities and deliverables include 10 to 12 separate AV demonstrations, a minimum of four full deployments, road/digital infrastructure assessments and enhancements, data repositories, test videos and sensor logs, software/code deliverables, quarterly progress reports, integration guidelines, and a white paper on transition to sustainable operations.
Reporting, financial management, and compliance activities (quarterly technical and financial reports, biannual performance reviews, and final reporting) are required throughout the 72 month period.
Intended beneficiaries: Citizens of the United States, with a primary focus on rural and tribal communities.
Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: None specified at this time.
Award purpose: This agreement funds the Tribal & Rural Autonomous Vehicles for Efficiency, Livability and Safety (TRAVELS) program at the University of Wisconsin Madison to develop, test, demonstrate, and transition highly automated passenger transport solutions suitable for rural and tribal communities.
Activities to be performed: Program management and implementation planning, including staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and partner coordination.
Five major task areas: Needs assessment, policy and regulatory analysis, and RAV system architecture and CONOPS development.
AV demonstration and testing in rural settings (including components integration, field tests, and digital/roadway infrastructure support).
AV deployment, before-and-after impact assessment, monitoring, and planning for sustainable operations.
Public outreach, workshops/webinars, technology transfer, and multimedia engagement.
Evaluation, feedback, publication of best practices/case studies, sustainability planning, and a final project report.
Real-world activities and deliverables include 10 to 12 separate AV demonstrations, a minimum of four full deployments, road/digital infrastructure assessments and enhancements, data repositories, test videos and sensor logs, software/code deliverables, quarterly progress reports, integration guidelines, and a white paper on transition to sustainable operations.
Reporting, financial management, and compliance activities (quarterly technical and financial reports, biannual performance reviews, and final reporting) are required throughout the 72 month period.
Intended beneficiaries: Citizens of the United States, with a primary focus on rural and tribal communities.
Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: None specified at this time.
Awardee
Funding Goals
AWARD PURPOSE: THIS AGREEMENT FUNDS THE TRIBAL & RURAL AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES FOR EFFICIENCY, LIVABILITY AND SAFETY (TRAVELS) PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN MADISON TO DEVELOP, TEST, DEMONSTRATE, AND TRANSITION HIGHLY AUTOMATED PASSENGER TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS SUITABLE FOR RURAL AND TRIBAL COMMUNITIES.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Wisconsin
United States
Geographic Scope
State-Wide
Related Opportunity
University Of Wisconsin System was awarded
TRAVELS Program: Rural Autonomous Passenger Transport
Cooperative Agreement 693JK42650002
worth $15,000,000
from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation in March 2026 with work to be completed primarily in Wisconsin United States.
The grant
has a duration of 6 years and
was awarded through assistance program 20.944 Autonomous Vehicle Research in Rural Communities Program.
$15,000,000 (50.0%) of this Cooperative Agreement was funded by non-federal sources.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity Rural Autonomous Vehicle Program.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 3/18/26
Period of Performance
3/2/26
Start Date
3/1/32
End Date
Funding Split
$15.0M
Federal Obligation
$15.0M
Non-Federal Obligation
$30.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
693JK42650002
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
69A355 OFF OF THE ASSISTANT SEC RESEARCH
Funding Office
69A355 OFF OF THE ASSISTANT SEC RESEARCH
Awardee UEI
LCLSJAGTNZQ7
Awardee CAGE
09FZ2
Performance District
WI-90
Senators
Tammy Baldwin
Ron Johnson
Ron Johnson
Modified: 3/18/26