Tennessee State University is poised to make significant strides in urban mobility research thanks to a recent grant announcement that has electrified the Nashville community. The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded a $10 million Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation Grant to the City of Nashville, which includes $700,000 earmarked for TSU’s College of Engineering. This funding aims to foster a partnership with Nashville’s Department of Transportation and WeGo Public Transit for research focused on enhancing pedestrian safety and reducing traffic fatalities.
A Tech-Savvy Approach
The grant announcement took place at the Dr. Ernest Rip Patton, Jr. North Nashville Transit Center, where TSU students, faculty, and administrators gathered alongside Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. Dr. Quincy Quick, associate vice president for Research and Sponsored Programs at TSU, highlighted how advanced tools like artificial intelligence and LiDAR technology will be pivotal to the project’s success.
“This project embodies one of the fundamental concepts and cores of research,” said Quick. “It will employ state-of-the-art technology and make a lasting impact on society.” TSU students will be able to engage directly with these technologies, allowing them to acquire hands-on experience while contributing to real-world solutions.
Under the guidance of Dr. Kamrul Hasan, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, the initiative seeks to leverage data analytics and innovative technologies to cater to vulnerable road users. The project aligns with Nashville’s Vision Zero Action Plan, which aspires to eliminate traffic-related deaths and severe injuries through smart safety interventions along high-risk corridors.
A Team Effort
Graduate students Tupac Moseley and Atiqur Mallick will be integral to the project, bringing their expertise from their fields of computer science and computer information systems engineering. “We’re excited to see how the project grows and how our involvement—through real conversations with community members—helps improve safety,” Moseley shared. He added that he looks forward to building industry collaborations with other HBCUs.
Mallick emphasized the importance of applying the knowledge gained from this initiative to ensure that Nashville residents can navigate their streets safely. “We hope to apply what we learn from NDOT and TSU to ensure our state’s citizens can get home safely,” he stated.
This Phase 2 implementation follows a successful preliminary effort in 2023. With insights from this project, TSU aims to influence transportation policies and infrastructure development locally and potentially across the state.
