The Cornell University Local Roads Program (CLRP) announced that it will be joining nine academic institutions to form the Region 2 Regional University Transportation Center (UTC). The Region 2 UTC, led by the Rutgers University Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT), will have a research priority of improving the durability and extending the life of transportation infrastructure.
The Cornell University Local Roads Program has over 65 years of experience in providing technical assistance and outreach to the local highway community. As a member of the region 2 UTC, the Cornell Local Roads Program will be better positioned to provide a practical focus for research and material development in a manner that directly benefits local transportation departments and agencies. CLRP will be responsible for assisting the UTC in ensuring that any research has usable tools and products that can benefit local departments.
The University Transportation Center Program originated in 1988, as authorized in the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987. The primary purpose of the program at that time was conducting research. In 2015, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST) authorized $305 billion in spending from fiscal years 2016 through 2020 for initiatives in transportation research, education and workforce development, and for the facilitation of technology transfer. Internationally recognized for their capacity to lead, innovate and educate, UTCs enhance and transform our transportation system, keeping it in step with our nation’s economic, environmental and societal goals.
Information about Region 2 UTC background, activities, and research is available online. For additional questions, contact the Cornell Local Roads Program at (607) 255-5833 or by email at clrp [at] cornell.edu.
