UC Berkeley PATH Wins $10M USDOT Grant for Rural Autonomous Vehicle Freight Program

January 28, 2025

Truck and drone illustration

Recognizing the long stretches of roads and logistical challenges that come with rural and Tribal communities, the University of California, Berkeley’s Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology (PATH) has been awarded a $10 million, six-year project from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Rural Autonomous Vehicle Program to develop and deploy cutting-edge autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies that will enhance freight logistics in rural and Tribal communities.

The project, titled ACCEL-RT: Autonomous Cargo Carriers for Enhanced Logistics in Rural & Tribal Areas, will use the I-40 corridor spanning Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma to address critical transportation challenges. Project researchers will work on developing sustainable and scalable AV solutions by engaging directly with underserved communities and fostering workforce development in these regions.

The initiative brings together an interdisciplinary team led by UC Berkeley Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor and PATH Faculty Director Scott Moura. PATH Executive Director James Fishelson will serve as the Program Manager. Collaborators include Global Logistic Development Partners (GLDP), the University of New Mexico, University of Oklahoma and Mohave Community College.

Key objectives of ACCEL-RT include:

●      Community Engagement: Building trust and partnerships with rural and Tribal stakeholders to ensure the technology addresses local needs and concerns.

●      Workforce Development: Creating training and educational opportunities to prepare the workforce for high-tech logistics and AV operations.

●      Sustainable, Scalable Solutions: Developing AV freight systems that are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and adaptable to diverse rural settings.

“Our current transportation infrastructure does not adequately serve rural and Tribal communities. Challenges range from overwhelming truck congestion to medical supply & equipment accessibility,” says Moura. “ACCEL-RT will apply the toolbox of automation technologies to resolve these challenges, through a technology development pipeline that pushes R&D to deployment within the communities.”

The USDOT’s Rural Autonomous Vehicle Program, announced earlier this month, underscores the federal commitment to supporting underserved rural and Tribal communities and advancing automation technologies where they can make significant community impact. Under this program, UC Berkeley PATH and its partners are poised to make significant strides in improving supply chain resilience and economic opportunity in rural America.

For more information about ACCEL-RT and other UC Berkeley PATH initiatives, visitPATH’s website. For partnership inquiries, please contact Justin Wiley