Department of Transportation

The FY 2009 Department of Transportation's (DOT) total budgetary resources are $67.2 billion. Funding for the NextGen technology is more than doubled, providing $688 million for the transformation from radar-based to satellite-based air traffic systems to help meet the nation's rapidly growing demand for air travel.

The FY09 enacted funding for all research, engineering and development at the Federal Aviation Administration is $171 million, to be derived from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund and to remain available until September 30, 2011.

The FY09 budget request for the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) includes $12.9 million for RD&T. RITA advances innovative transportation technologies emphasizing work in alternative fuels in support of national economic and environmental priorities. RITA also leads DOT's Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) activities.

Under the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), up to $429.8 million has been appropriated for research and development. In FHWA's budget request, $110 million is provided for the Research and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) program, now managed by RITA, to continue work on 10 major initiatives and supporting technology transfer activities. Key among the initiatives is Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII), which continues development of enabling wireless platform to connect vehicles-to-vehicles and vehicle-to-infrastructure, along with safety and mobility applications.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received $105.5 million in Trust Funds for Highway Safety Research and Development activities to reduce highway fatalities, prevent injuries, and significantly reduce their associated economic toll.

The Federal Transit Administration received $67 million for transit research programs.