U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $9.2 Million to Improve Transportation Safety and Sustainability

The National Center for Transportation Management, Research and Development, based at Morgan State University in Baltimore, will receive a $1 million grant. The money will help the center continue its research into urban transportation challenges, such as ways to reduce waiting and travel time for passengers using transit rail service and analyzing the transportation needs of the increasing number of elderly individuals caring for young children.

The Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University, the nation's largest UTC, will receive a $3,239,900 grant. The center will use the funds to continue research activities on safety and operations, winter maintenance and effects, infrastructure maintenance and materials, systems engineering, mobility and public transportation, logistics and freight management as well as transportation planning and economics. The funds will also be used to involve undergraduate and graduate students in research projects and conduct outreach events to share research results.

The Center for Transportation and Materials Engineering at Youngstown State University, Ohio, will use a $463,400 grant to continue investigating the relationship of materials engineering and advanced manufacturing to the sustainability of the transportation infrastructure. Specific efforts focus on the development or adaption of lighter-weight or stronger materials for use in transportation, including the development of lighter, more fuel efficient vehicles. Research will also look at increasing the longevity of transportation infrastructure, improving bridge safety and improving sustainability in the transportation system.

The Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC) at Texas A&M University will use a $2,082,800 grant to continue research, education and technology transfer activities at its consortium universities which include Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University and the University of Texas at Austin. Research efforts focus on supporting economic growth and trade, enhancing mobility and infrastructure efficiency, and promoting safety, environmental stewardship and transportation workforce development.

Also located at Texas A&M University, the University Transportation Center for Mobility will use a $1.5 million grant to continue conducting an integrated, interdisciplinary, competitive program of research, education, and technology transfer in mobility, rural public transportation, congestion management and mitigation, and innovative financing.