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Call for ITE Members to participate in the University Transportation Centers Selection Process

By Mr. Jeffrey Paniati P.E posted 02-03-2016 08:26 AM

  

USDOT has invited ITE to have our members serve on evaluation panels in the upcoming competition for University Transportation Centers (UTCs).  The UTC program was reauthorized in the recently passed Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.  It provides approximately $75 million/year to establish up to 35 UTCs at three different levels.  The role of each UTC is to advance transportation expertise and technology through education, research and technology transfer activities and to address critical workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation leaders.  This is a very competitive and highly sought after program by universities.

 

Click here for a link to the Federal Register Notice that provides more information on the upcoming UTC competition.  There are six research priority areas listed (improving mobility or people and goods; reducing congestion; promoting safety; improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure; preserving the environment; and preserving the existing transportation system).  USDOT is looking for subject matter experts to review proposals in each area.

 

Each reviewer will review proposal in his/her area of expertise.  Then the reviewers will meet in panels for two days sometime the week of July 18th at the Volpe Center in Cambridge, Mass.  While reviewers time will not be compensated, USDOT will be travel costs for the reviewers to travel to Boston for the panel meetings.

 

USDOT is looking for ITE to identify 12-15 individuals to participate in this review process. The only restriction is that evaluators cannot be aligned with any university or work for a State DOT.  If you are interested in participating please contact Phil Caruso (pcaruso@ite.org), ITE's Director for Technical Programs by COB February 12.    You will be asked to provide your contact information and identify which of the six priority areas you would be most interested in (could be more than one, some do overlap). 

 

This is a great opportunity to influence the future direction of our nation's transportation system and workforce by helping to select the most qualified universities to receive this funding and serve as focal points for new directions in transportation research and education.

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