Vanderbilt researchers are part of a collaborative effort to revolutionize Nashville’s traffic systems and improve the lives of residents.
Two U.S. Department of Transportation Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grants, totaling $12 million, have been awarded to Metro Nashville to help transform the city’s transit infrastructure through cutting-edge technology and innovative partnerships. The projects unite local agencies, state and federal governments, and regional universities—including Vanderbilt, Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga—to create safer streets and more reliable transit for Nashville residents. Advancing the Nashville Innovation Alliance mission, Vanderbilt researchers and collaborators will help implement these advancements to improve Nashville’s transportation network.
The grants focus on transforming Nashville’s busiest roads into models of safety and efficiency using technology developed by Vanderbilt researchers Dan Work, professor of civil and environmental engineering, Jonathan Sprinkle, chair of the Department of Computer Science, and Abhishek Dubey, associate professor of computer science. The three lead research teams at the Vanderbilt Institute for Software Integrated Systems, which plays a key role in these projects.
These efforts align with Nashville’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries through innovative, data-driven solutions.