On February 12, 2026, SAFE’s Coalition for Reimagined Mobility (ReMo) submitted comments in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT)’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026–2030 Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) Strategic Plan Request for Information.
The United States’ transportation network is facing unprecedented challenges—like aging infrastructure and increasing demand—and the need to evolve quickly to enable the introduction of new technologies like artificial intelligence.
As the nation’s transportation system is increasingly stressed, a research portfolio focused on scalable deployment, cost reduction, and global competitiveness is necessary. ReMo’s comments urge the U.S. Department of Transportation to modernize transportation policy by braiding digital infrastructure with core infrastructure needs. This includes embedding digital technologies, communications, sensing, software, data, and secure computing, into the foundation of transportation program delivery, regulatory frameworks, and RD&T priorities.
Modernization is a strategic imperative for the United States, and it will lead to decreased costs and improved safety and security. DOT’s current RD&T strategy should evolve to meet private sector innovation, moving beyond isolated technology research and toward integrated system transformation.
By prioritizing interoperability, procurement reform, cybersecurity, safety validation, and dual-use mobility innovation, DOT can ensure that U.S.-developed AI-enabled transportation technologies become globally adopted standards, reinforcing both competitiveness and national security over the coming decades.
Read SAFE’s full comments here.
