RSPA 05-03
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
Contact: James Mitchell
Joe Delcambre
Tel.: (202) 366-4831
publicaffairs@rspa.dot.gov
DOT
Awards Grant to University of Wisconsin for Transportation Education and Researc
U.S. Department of
Transportation Acting Research and Special Programs Administrator Samuel G.
Bonasso today announced a grant of $916,300 to the University of Wisconsin to
operate a university-based center of excellence in transportation.
Mr. Bonasso represented the
Department of Transportation at a National Transportation Week observance at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison on May 14.
He recognized the extraordinary work of the Midwest Regional University
Transportation Center (MRUTC) and presented the grant check to university
officials.
“We
are investing in research for a safer, simpler and smarter transportation
system,” said Acting Administrator Bonasso.
Speaking of the role of the MRUTC in developing transportation asset
management processes, Bonasso said, “The
outcome of your work can truly enable transportation officials at every level of
government and the private sector to make key investment decisions that fulfill
transportation needs.”
This grant supports the MRUTC, in partnership with the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette University, University of
Cincinnati, Northwestern University, Richard J. Daley College, and Lac Courte
Oreilles Ojibwa Community College.
One of 26 UTCs funded by the U.S. DOT, the Midwest
Regional UTC specializes in asset optimization and management techniques for
transportation facilities, with the objective of maximizing the social benefits
of multimodal transportation assets.
More than 75 schools throughout the United States participate in UTCs to conduct combined programs of research, education, and technology transfer. Grants recipients are required to provide matching funds, doubling the return of the federal investment. Last year, the UTC colleges and universities graduated over 1,000 students with advanced transportation-related degrees, offered almost 2,000 undergraduate and graduate transportation courses, conducted over 400 research projects, and trained 25,000 practicing transportation professionals.
UTC
grants are administered by RSPA, the Research and Special Programs
Administration of the U.S. DOT, which works for the advancement of science and
technology for national transportation needs.
RSPA also has responsibilities for safe and secure movement of hazardous
materials to industry and consumers by all modes of transportation, including
pipelines, coordination of rapid response to transportation emergencies, and
development programs for transportation professionals.
UTC program information is available on the Web at: http://utc.dot.gov/.
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