The Ray was named a capacity builder by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in 2023 for a new Thriving Communities Program.
Awarded $5.1 million alongside our partners Arcadis, InfraStrategies, and Beverly Scott Associates to serve 15 networked communities by providing technical assistance, planning, and capacity-building. The goal is to enable disadvantaged and under-resourced communities to advance transportation projects that support community-driven economic development, health, environment, mobility, and access goals.
The 15 communities matched with The Ray are located near ports, airports, freight, and rail facilities. Community infrastructure needs and priorities will drive The Ray’s capacity-building strategy, which will focus on mobility, access, housing, economic issues, workforce development and environmental justice.
Our 15 Networked Communities are from urban, suburban, and rural places across America:
- Montgomery, Alabama
- Saint Paul, Alaska
- Wrangell, Alaska
- Douglas, Arizona
- San Luis, Arizona
- Osceola Port Authority, Arkansas
- Doraville, Georgia
- Detroit, Michigan
- Chester Economic Development Authority, Pennsylvania
- Pottstown, Pennsylvania
- Charleston Area Transportation Study, South Carolina
- Brownsville, Texas
- Kearns Metro Township, Utah
- Nisqually Indian Tribe, Washington
- Upper Kanawha Valley Strategic Initiative Council, West Virginia
Detroit downtown drone footage