University Transportation Center (UTC)
Funding Level: $76,700,000
Authorized under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA-LU), the University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program
advances U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation
through the mechanisms of education, research and technology transfer at
university-based centers of excellence.
The UTC Program is a Congressionally mandated
financial-assistance program to support transportation education, research and
technology transfer activities at university-based centers. Under the program, UTCs receive grant funds
from DOT to educate the future transportation workforce and to conduct research
to advance the field of transportation. UTC grant funds require grantees to provide a
dollar-for-dollar match on the Federal funds (with the exception of eight UTCs
that Congress exempted from this requirement), thus doubling DOT’s investment
in transportation research and education.
In FY 2006, the UTC Program awarded funding to 60 grantees. Ten were at institutions that won a 1999 open
competition, ten were at institutions that won a 2002 limited competition
required by TEA-21, and 40 were at institutions designated in SAFETEA-LU. The amount of each grant is specified in the
UTC Program’s authorizing legislation.
FY 2007 funding will be awarded to the 10 Regional and 10
Tier 1 UTCs that were selected during the Congressionally mandated competition
in FY 2006, as well as the 40 UTCs designated in SAFETEA-LU.
In FY 2008, RITA is directed in SAFETEA-LU to use $76,700,000
for awards to the UTCs and to perform certain required program-coordination
functions such as operating a clearinghouse for UTC research. UTC Program funding is provided to RITA
through reimbursable agreements with the Federal Highway Administration and
Federal Transit Administration.
Success is measured by the number of students graduating
with transportation-related advanced degrees from universities funded under the
UTC program.
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