The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released their IT Strategic Plan, "A Path to 1DOT IT, in September of 2025 and has quickly been making progress. The plan outlines four strategic goals:
- Eliminate Technical Debt -- Consolidate and simplify the IT portfolio with a focus on cloud-native architectures.
- Become Customer-Centric -- Design and deliver technology around the needs of users and mission partners with a focus on feedback and transparency.
- Build Obsessive Products -- Organize development work within mission-aligned digital factories, use Agile and DevOps practices to produce high-quality, user-focused solutions.
- Grow Talent -- Invest in the Federal workforce's technical capability with skills assessments, targeted training, rotations and mentorship, competency-based hiring, and performance-based recognition.
Early initiatives to achieve these goals have focused on the adoption of commercial tool suites that allow for easier integration of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
Move to Google Workspace
In December 2025, DOT announced that it will migrate from Microsoft to Google Workspace for its productivity and collaboration tools; this will include using Google Docs for document creation and sharing, as well as Google Meet for online meetings and collaboration. DOT migrated an initial set of users to Workspace within 30 days of the award and provided agency-wide access to Gemini and NotebookLM within 60 days. They anticipate a "global go-live" for 12,500 DOT employees in February 2026, with further rollout, to their full 50,000 employees, coming shortly after that.
Salesforce to Power Automation
DOT has also announced they will use Salesforce's AI agent platform to automate operational tasks across the department's components. Among the applications of the platform, DOT plans to use AI agents to streamline manual, tactical, and operational tasks involved in grant applications--including verifying compliance, flagging inconsistencies or missing data, and drafting approval recommendations for human review.
The platform is also being used to streamline operations in other areas, including improving call-center response times with AI and enabling nationwide data sharing.
FAA Modernization
A key focus of DOT is improving the safety and reliability of the IT systems that manage air travel. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded a $12.5 billion contract to Peraton to overhaul the nation's air traffic control systems. While the FAA said its current system is safe, it is focused on rapid modernization to address old equipment that causes delays. Currently any IT outage can cause travel delays, so updating systems that include telecommunications networks, radar, software, and hardware is a high priority to improve reliability.
The Road Ahead for DOT IT Transformation
DOT plans to share the insights gained through these (and other) major IT implementations to guide state and local transportation agencies on their AI and modernization journeys.
The Department recently announced it is making $33 million available for the University Transportation Centers (UTC) program. This program is focused on prioritizing ways to increase transportation safety, including through automated vehicles and driving systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, digital infrastructure, and human-machine interface technologies. Each UTC is a group of two- and four-year colleges and universities that have come together to form a center of transportation excellence on a specific research topic.
Legislation has been introduced to ensure that insights gained through UTC work and other modernization initiatives will be shared nation-wide. The Roadway Safety Modernization Act would require the DOT to develop and distribute related best practices, ensure interoperability of procured tools across federal programs, and reduce silos that may hinder the coordination of investments.
To learn more about DOT strategy and plans, check out the following resources:
- Spring Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo 2026 (March 10-12, 2026; Raleigh, NC) - This event will examine the strategies, partnerships, and technologies driving long-term impact across city systems. From experimental pilots to large-scale infrastructure, we'll look at how communities are navigating complexity and building smarter, more connected futures.
- AASHTO GIS for Transportation Symposium 2026 (March 16-19, 2026; Chicago, IL) - Geospatial professionals will share how they harness the power of GIS technologies to solve complex problems in transportation.
- The Arc of CX Modernization: From Foundations to Human-Centered Services (March 26, 2026; webcast) - Government leaders and industry experts discuss practical ways to improve customer experience and how to build trust with the people they serve through modernized services.
- 2026 Digital Transformation Summit (April 22, 2026; McLean, VA) - Outdated legacy programs and applications have long been an impediment for mission speed. But the officials featured at our 2026 Digital Transformation Summit are trying to change that.
- Clear the Road for Connected Operations: How Government Agencies Can Implement Efficiency-Driving Digital Solutions (white paper) - In today's fast-paced world, connected operations are revolutionizing how public and private fleets manage efficiency, safety, and sustainability. This transformation is fueled by real-time data from IoT devices, helping teams make smarter decisions on everything from vehicle maintenance to route planning. By breaking down data silos and providing actionable insights, organizations can better serve their communities while reducing operational risks.
- The Cloud Playbook (white paper) - Cloud adoption in government has evolved far beyond simply migrating workloads to the public cloud. Agencies are now rethinking strategies to balance cost, compliance, and security while building resilient infrastructures that support innovation.
- Data to Decisions: How Agentic AI Is Transforming Government (white paper) - Though adoption will require attention to security, trust, and oversight, the trend is clear--agentic AI is poised to transform government operations. This report features insights from four experts on how agencies can use it to reduce manual work, accelerate decisions, and respond more effectively.
For more information on the technologies being used to modernize DOT, search for additional events and resources on GovEvents and GovWhitePapers.
