The Ray Directs National Strategy for Transportation Digital Infrastructure
March 5, 2026 – Following our mission to reimagine infrastructure to be safer, cleaner, and more productive, The Ray has delivered a comprehensive formal response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Request for Information (RFI) regarding a national Transportation Digital Infrastructure (TDI) strategy.
The strategic submission was directed to the USDOT Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) leadership—including Assistant Secretary Seval Oz, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael Halem, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Lee White. Led by our Executive Director, Allie Kelly, our response establishes a clear paradigm shift toward a collaborative innovation model. We partner with all levels of government to drive innovation in energy and mobility, improving capacity, production, and longevity to move faster than the status quo.
"By transitioning from a passive land management model to digital, proactive stewardship models, transportation agencies can move from understanding what they could build to what they should build to achieve the highest and best use of public assets," stated Allie Kelly.
Two Pillars for National TDI Deployment
The submission outlines a concrete blueprint for federal infrastructure based on two key strategic pillars:
Leveraging Proving Grounds: Moving beyond isolated research tracks, the strategy focuses on using our tested, scalable national model, with over a decade of proven transportation innovation, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This established foundation serves as the launchpad to validate and scale technologies under actual highway conditions across the 47,000 miles of the U.S. Interstate System.
Geospatial Stewardship & The 'Complete Corridor': As the only nonprofit in the United States using geospatial analysis for right-of-way (ROW) utilization, research-based practices, and cutting-edge safety systems, we advocate for treating the highway ROW as a unified ecosystem. Utilizing advanced geospatial mapping and 3D digital twins enables early colocation of critical utilities, high-voltage energy transmission, and rural broadband to power the modern AI and data center boom.
Proven Technologies Scaling Nationwide
The recommendations submitted by The Ray are backed by over a decade of operational data and real-world success, ready for near-term scaling through 2026 and 2027:
WheelRight Safety Sensing: A 10-second drive-over diagnostic assessing tire health, providing maintenance efficiency for freight, and a critical health check for vehicles utilizing the highways.
Interoperable V2X Ecosystems: A cloud-based vehicle-to-everything platform broadcasting real-time hazard warnings and freight priority. This architecture is scaling nationwide through the V2X Pooled Fund Study (V2XPFS), a GDOT-led research effort that brings together 21 state DOT partners.
Pi-Lit Crash Impact Detection: Mesh-networked safety sensors that attach to guardrails instantly, transmitting immediate alerts to DOT crews to expedite barrier repairs.
UAS 2.0 (Drones): A "Drone as First Responder" initiative delivering immediate video data to emergency teams en route to rural incidents, while assisting DOTs with safer bridge evaluations and construction monitoring.
Data Precision and Next-Gen Digital Records
A key component of our response highlights the advanced geospatial mapping resources developed with Esri, which ingest planning layers, compressing asset evaluation timelines from months to minutes. Furthermore, we advocate for an immediate national transition to Digital As-Builts (DABs). Moving to 3D lifecycle digital records gives state DOTs precise subsurface asset awareness, preventing dangerous and costly utility strikes during broadband and energy grid installations.
Driving Nationwide Partnerships
To truly modernize our infrastructure, we must simplify how public agencies and private innovators build together. The Ray is championing cross-sector partnerships and scalable digital blueprints that remove the friction from tech deployment. These validated models enable state DOTs and turnpike authorities to simulate the long-term benefits of utility colocation and digital safety corridors, providing the precise evidence of asset value needed to justify investments and build lasting economic resilience.
With this submission, The Ray isn't just suggesting new tools; we are calling for a new mindset, moving USDOT and public agencies from a reactive asset-management culture to a proactive, data-driven risk-prevention culture.
Let’s Drive the Future, together.
