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TSU Engineering Secures $700,000 SMART Grant to Advance Traffic Safety in Nashville

Tennessee State University continues to lead data-driven transportation safety research, securing a $700,000 award as part of a $10 million SMART Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant will support a partnership with the Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT) and WeGo Public Transit, focused on enhancing pedestrian safety and reducing traffic fatalities using AI, LiDAR, and real-time analytics. The research initiative will be led by Dr. Kamrul Hasan, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering at TSU.

"This grant strengthens TSU ability to conduct high-impact research that directly benefits the community," says Dr. Hasan. "By integrating AI, LiDAR, and advanced data analytics, we are developing a new standard for pedestrian safety and traffic management in Nashville."

Building on Previous Success
The SMART Grant builds on TSU’s ongoing Leveraging Advanced Data to Deliver Multimodal Safety (LADDMS) project, which has already demonstrated success by, 1) Deploying 13 LiDAR sensors at 8 locations in North Nashville, 2) Reducing unsafe mid-block crossings by 75% through AI-assisted interventions, 3) Identified an average of 6.1 near-miss events per day, providing valuable insights for NDOT, and 4) Training 26 individuals in LiDAR installation and AI-driven analytics.

TSU Partners with NDOT and WeGo Public Transit to Enhance Pedestrian Safety and Reduce Traffic Fatalities in Nashville

With the combined expertise of TSU’s College of Engineering, NDOT, and WeGo Public Transit, the SMART Grant project is set to redefine urban mobility and safety, making Nashville’s streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users alike.

"The work TSU is doing will help transform how cities use technology to improve transportation safety," says Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell.

Also: TSU Engineering Students Shine at NOCoE TRB Student Contest.

TSU’s commitment to transportation safety and innovation was further recognized at the National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) TRB Student Contest, where TSU students Tupac Moseley and Atiqur Rahman Mallick were named winners.

"It’s amazing to see our students gaining national recognition for their innovative contributions to transportation safety," says Dr. Hasan. "They are not just learning-they are actively shaping the future of smart mobility."

The contest challenged students to showcase their understanding of Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) and AI-based mobility solutions. As winners, the students received a travel stipend to attend TRB 2025, where they will present their research to national transportation experts.