Federal Program To Award $450 Million to University Transportation Centers

A press release from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) outlines a program that will provide $450 million in grant funding to up to 35 University Transportation Centers (UTC).

Dr. Robert C. Hampshire, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, said “These investments will lead to cutting edge transportation research, train a diverse next generation of transportation professionals, and ultimately help the American people get to where they need to go much more quickly and affordably.”  

The program, open to U.S. non-profit educational institutions, includes several focus areas:

• Improving Mobility of People and Goods;  
• Reducing Congestion;  
• Promoting Safety;  
• Improving the Durability and Extending the Life of Transportation Infrastructure,
• Preserving the Environment;  
• Preserving the Existing Transportation System; and,
• Reducing Transportation Cybersecurity Risks.

According to the press release, “Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), DOT intends to select up to five National UTCs, 10 Regional UTCs, and up to 20 Tier 1 UTCs, each of which will conduct a combination of research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer and implementation activities.”