Trump's Transportation Department Announces Final Four in $1 Million ARPA-I Ideas Challenge

The Final Four were chosen from 448 submissions from innovators nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation has selected four teams to advance to the finals of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Infrastructure (ARPA-I) Ideas and Innovation Challenge (“Ideas Challenge”). The Trump Administration is empowering Americans to develop bold, transformative solutions to modernize America's infrastructure, enhance safety, and cut costs for American families.

The ARPA-I Ideas Challenge Final Four teams are:

Additional Information:

The ARPA-I Ideas Challenge is a two-stage prize competition for innovators from across the private and public sectors to create a portfolio of breakthrough ideas in transportation technology. These ideas will inform the research and development path forward for ARPA-I, USDOT and the transportation sector.

During Stage 1, 15 semi-finalists were selected from 448 submissions from innovators across the country. In Stage 2, the semi-finalists submitted detailed proposals and the Final Four were selected to advance to the ARPA-I Ideas Challenge Finals.

The Finals event will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at USDOT headquarters, where the Final Four will feature their innovative ideas to compete for a share of $700,000 in Stage 2 prizes.

For more information on the Ideas Challenge, including summaries of the innovative ideas from the finalists, visit www.transportation.gov/arpa-i/ideas-challenge or contact ideas.arpa-i@dot.gov.