RSPA 21-03
Contact: Joe Delcambre
Tel: (202) 366-4831
Monday, December 29, 2003

DOT Awards $1.8 Million Federal Grant for Transportation Research and Education to University of Rhode Island

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta today announced a grant of $1.8 million to the University of Rhode Island for the University Transportation Center (UTC) there to support advanced research for intermodal transportation systems and advanced transportation infrastructure.

“America today is a world leader in transportation,” said Secretary Mineta. “We must invest today so we have more efficient and even safer ways to move people and products tomorrow.”

Among the activities supported by the funding will be research on promoting environmental protection within transportation systems and developing materials to enhance the lifespan and safety of transportation facilities. Funds from the grant also will be used to recruit students into transportation professions and educate them to be future leaders of the field. The grant also will support seminars and conferences on research results for area transportation professionals.

More than 75 colleges and universities throughout the United States participate in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) University Transportation Center program, conducting combined programs of transportation research, education and technology transfer. 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 over 25,000 practicing transportation professionals.

UTC grants are administered by DOT’s Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) and must be matched by recipients on, at a minimum, a dollar for dollar basis in order to leverage the value of the federal investment.

RSPA works for the advancement of science and technology for national transportation needs. The agency also has responsibilities for ensuring the safe and secure movement of hazardous materials to industry and consumers by all modes of transportation, including pipelines, and coordination of rapid response to transportation emergencies. Information on the UTC program is available on the Web at: http://utc.dot.gov/.

Briefing Room