Applying to the Program
1 Read the IDEA Program Announcement, and pay close attention to the
following information:
- Additional areas for possible investigation
- Detailed proposal package instructions
- FAQs (many of your questions have been answered!)
- Review the Transit IDEA Evaluation Form
2 Pay close attention on the four areas proposals are evaluated on:
- Innovation: Is the concept new?
- Research Approach: Is the approach reasonable and sound?
- Potential Benefits: Does the concept solve an important problem?
- Implementation/ commercialization: Does the implementation plan appear practical and
effective?
3 Proposers are encouraged to do the following:
- Download all required forms (cover, budget summary, and liability statement sheet) by
clicking on Proposal Submission Forms and IDEA Sample Pitch Deck.
- Work with transit agencies in developing IDEA proposals and include participation by transit
agencies in proposals, such as in testing innovative methods.
- Provide evidence that transit agencies would want to use the proposed concepts and products
and to participate in testing prototypes strengthens proposals.
- Provide letters from transit agencies confirming their participation in Transit IDEA
proposals, addressed to the proposer for the agency, and briefly describe what that
participation would be.
4 Submit your proposal, along with all attachments, enclosures, and
support letters, in a single PDF to the Transit IDEA Proposal
Portal.