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Surface transportation is an interconnected system encompassing roadways, rail, public transit, freight, active transportation, and the infrastructure and services that connect them.

Connected, automated, and data-driven technologies are transforming how transportation agencies plan, build, operate, inspect, maintain, and secure these systems—and how people and goods move across them.

The Advanced Mobility Technologies Institute (AMTI) works across industry, academia, government, and the military to research, evaluate, integrate, and deploy advanced mobility technologies in real-world transportation environments.

AMTI’s government partners include MassDOT, other state departments of transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, and other federal agencies.

From applied research and demonstration to safe, scalable deployment.

Improving Safety, Mobility and Transportation-System Performance

Advanced surface transportation technologies can improve safety, strengthen system performance, expand mobility options, support infrastructure and asset management, and increase the resilience and efficiency of transportation networks.

AMTI’s work addresses the full surface transportation environment, including:

  • Roadways and highway systems
  • Passenger and freight rail
  • Public transportation
  • Bus and paratransit operations
  • Freight and goods movement
  • Pedestrian and bicycle transportation
  • First- and last-mile mobility
  • Intermodal facilities and connections
  • Transportation infrastructure and rights-of-way
  • Operations centers and supporting digital systems
  • Incident response and emergency transportation operations
  • Civil-military surface transportation integration

Applied Research, Development, Testing & Deployment

AMTI works across transportation modes and jurisdictions to advance emerging technologies through applied research and development, systems integration, testing and evaluation, operational demonstration, and deployment support.

Our work addresses the complete implementation environment—including technical performance, multimodal integration, infrastructure requirements, safety and risk, policy and governance, cybersecurity, workforce readiness, public acceptance, and long-term operations and maintenance.

Focus Areas

Connected and Automated Transportation

  • Connected and automated vehicle applications
  • Automated transit and shuttle operations
  • Connected rail and grade-crossing applications
  • First- and last-mile passenger and goods movement
  • Cooperative driving and vehicle coordination
  • Vehicle-to-everything communications
  • Operational design-domain assessment
  • Testing under complex and adverse operating conditions

Intelligent Transportation Systems & Infrastructure

  • Intelligent roadways, rail systems, intersections, and corridors
  • Roadside and wayside sensing and communications
  • Traffic-signal and transit-priority applications
  • Rail, roadway, and grade-crossing safety technologies
  • Infrastructure-to-vehicle data exchange
  • Vulnerable road-user detection and protection
  • Digital infrastructure and edge computing
  • Transportation-management system integration

Multimodal Transportation Operations

  • Roadway and traffic-system management
  • Rail and public transportation operations
  • Freight and goods-movement optimization
  • Multimodal trip and service coordination
  • First- and last-mile connectivity
  • Infrastructure inspection and asset management
  • Incident and emergency transportation operations
  • Transportation-system resilience and continuity

Surface Transportation Data Intelligence & Analytics

  • Multimodal transportation-data integration
  • GIS and geospatial analysis
  • Real-time operational analytics
  • Safety and risk modeling
  • Travel-demand and system-performance analysis
  • Sensor-data processing and visualization
  • Decision-support tools and performance dashboards
  • Asset-condition monitoring and predictive analytics

Safety, Policy & Deployment Readiness

  • Safety and operational-risk assessment
  • Human factors and human-system interaction
  • Cybersecurity and data governance
  • Standards, interoperability, and systems integration
  • Policy and regulatory analysis
  • Infrastructure and institutional readiness
  • Public acceptance and stakeholder engagement
  • Deployment planning and performance evaluation

Collaboration & Workforce Development

AMTI brings together transportation agencies, military organizations, research institutions, technology developers, infrastructure owners, operators, and communities to address challenges that cross modes, jurisdictions, and organizational boundaries.

Applied education and workforce development may include:

  • Connected and automated transportation systems
  • Roadway, rail, and public transportation operations
  • Intelligent transportation systems and infrastructure
  • Infrastructure inspection and asset management
  • Transportation safety and cybersecurity
  • Multimodal systems integration
  • Testing, evaluation, and deployment planning
  • Transportation data intelligence and analytics

This collaborative model helps MassDOT and other public-sector partners evaluate emerging capabilities, reduce deployment risk, develop the transportation workforce, and translate research into repeatable operational solutions.

AMTI advances technologies and capabilities that connect transportation modes, strengthen public infrastructure, and improve the movement of people and goods.

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