The Department of Transportation on Friday launched the Great American Digital Corridors Program, a $20 million investment meant to help states share real-time highway safety data with one another along the nation’s interstate corridors.

The department’s Office of Research and Technology said the money will support projects that set up public data feeds along multi-state highway corridors, with the goal of making roads safer and more efficient for travelers and businesses.

The program will give priority to proposals that use real-time data for work zone safety and operations, congestion reduction and traffic flow, freight bottlenecks, and coordinating emergency response and the dispatch of first responders.

Projects will not need to put up matching money. The department said there is no required non-federal share for the program this year, and the federal government may cover 100 percent of a project’s cost.

“The Great American Digital Corridors Program unleashes cutting-edge innovation and promotes open-data sharing across public, private, and academia to eliminate traffic bottlenecks, elevate safety, and power autonomous transportation,” said Seval Oz, the department’s assistant secretary for research and technology. “Under Secretary Duffy, USDOT is uniting our states, industry, and academia to build the world’s most advanced mobility network along our national interstates—empowering the U.S. economy and bringing American families safely home.”

Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster said the program would create a more connected transportation network. “Reliable information on real-time traffic conditions benefits America’s drivers and truckers, facilitating mobility and ultimately promoting safety on the roads and our national economy,” he said.

States, local and tribal governments, transit agencies, public toll authorities and metropolitan planning organizations are among those eligible to apply. Private companies, nonprofit groups and academic institutions may take part as members of a consortium with an eligible public partner.

According to the federal grant listing, applications are due Dec. 28, and the department expects to make about eight awards. It will hold a webinar for applicants on Nov. 23 and expects to announce its selections in early 2027.