Altair Engineering, Automation Alley Technology Center to Develop Bus Prototype To Revitalize Public Transportation

TROY – Altair Engineering and Automation Alley’s Technology Center – in conjunction with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation – have secured a Federal Transportation Authority grant for $2.2 million to build two advanced technology prototype buses that will be more economical and reliable.

The $2.2 million federal funding came from two sources. The Department of Transportation Research and University Research Centers account provided

$1.5 million; the additional $0.7 million was provided from the Department

of Transportation’s FTA Bus Grants account.

“Not only does this $2.2 million grant validate the government’s

initial investment in our preliminary work,” said James R. Scapa, president

and CEO of Altair, “it also is a testament to the exciting synergy we’ve

created when regional government and business leadership work together.

This is a great opportunity to showcase the terrific talent we have in this

area, as well as to attract new technology resources to Southeast

Michigan.”

The latest grant will be combined with an earlier federal grant for $550,000, giving the partners $2.7 million for the project.

“Automation Alley is delighted to collaborate with Altair Engineering

on this venture,” said Tom Anderson, director of the Automation Alley

Technology Center. “This partnership is a great example of how the

Southeast Michigan region is taking a national leadership role on emerging

technology issues.”

The Altair BUSolutions initiative will design and build two

demonstration buses that are easily maintainable and efficient to operate

in the existing transportation infrastructure, at greatly reduced cost.

Altair worked closely with regional transportation authorities — the

Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) and the

Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) — to meet regulatory

requirements and address the needs of the bus drivers and riders. The

project is also included in the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

(SEMCOG) Regional Transportation Improvement Plan.

Once the feasibility of the concept has been completely demonstrated

and the performance of the prototype buses has been thoroughly tested,

analyzed and evaluated, Altair Engineering plans to commercialize the

BUSolutions technology and make it available for public use.