Research & Projects

A picture of a falling weight deflectometer.

Program Research & Projects Summary

Most people know the NYSLTAP - Cornell Local Roads Program through it’s affiliation as the New York State LTAP Center which was officially recognized as the Rural Technical Assistance Program (RTAP) by then Governor Mario Cuomo in 1984. The Program actually began officially in 1951 and has roots going back to 1905 with a Good Roads Week conference held by the Cornell College of Agriculture.

But in addition to extension, NYSLTAP-CLRP has a long history of doing research with a focus on local roads. In fact, our original icon shows research and extension were both components of the Program in the 1950’s. Continuing in that tradition, which has examined why potholes form on gravel roads without enough crown and what makes a good gravel for use in a local highway, NYSLTAP-CLRP continues to perform research with value to the local highway community.

Check out our recent projects:

Retroflectivity
Seasonal Pavement Models
Ditching Best Management Practices (BMPs)
RoadPE LHI Design Tool

University Transportation Center

In June 2018, the NYSLTAP - Cornell Local Roads Program joined 9 partner universities to form the USDOT Region 2 University Transportation Center (UTC). The Region 2 Consortium was established after the successful completion of a grant competition established by the USDOT in December of 2016 as part of the federal government’s commitment to support research, education, workforce development, and tech-transfer under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.

As a member of the Region 2 UTC, the NYSLTAP - Cornell Local Roads Program will draw from its extensive experience and expertise in working with local highway and public works agencies to assist the UTC in developing practical tools that can benefit local transportation departments. The research and outreach focus of NYSLTAP - CLRP within the UTC will allow the consortium to ensure any research has tools and products that can be used by local agencies as well as by state and national partners.

 

Additional UTC Roles:

  • Research of Local Roads
  • Local Agency Outreach
  • Material Distribution
  • Partner Engagement

UTC Director

Dr. Ali Maher
Rutgers University
100 Brett Road
Piscataway, NJ 08854

Phone: 848-445-2951
Email: mmaher [at] soe.rutgers.edu (maher[at]soe[dot]rutgers[dot]edu)
Website: cait.rutgers.edu

Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation

Region: 2

Research Priority: Improving the Durability and Extending the Life of Transportation Infrastructure

UTC Partners:

Lead University:

  • Rutgers, State University of New Jersey

Consortium Members:

  • Atlantic Cape Community College
  • Columbia University
  • Cornell University
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico
  • Princeton University
  • Rowan University
  • SUNY-Farmingdale State College
  • SUNY-University of Buffalo

About University Transportation Centers

DOT invests in the future of transportation through its University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, which awards and administers grants to consortia of colleges and universities across the United States. The UTC Program advances state-of-the-art in transportation research and technology, and develops the next generation of transportation professionals. The Congressionally-mandated program has been in place since 1987 to help address our nation’s ever-growing need for the safe, efficient and environmentally sound movement of people and goods.

Each UTC is a consortium of two- and four-year colleges and universities that come together to form a unique center of transportation excellence on a specific research topic. Together, they advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through education, solutions-oriented research and technology transfer, and the exploration and sharing of cutting-edge ideas and approaches.

Internationally recognized for their capacity to lead, innovate and educate, UTCs continue to enhance and transform our transportation system, keeping it in step with our nation’s economic, environmental and societal goals.

Current UTC Projects and Research:

 

Links/Resources