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RSPA 18-03
Contact: Joe Delcambre
Wednesday, October 8, 2003
Tel: (202) 366-4831
publicaffairs@rspa.dot.gov
DOT Awards $1.8 Million Federal Grant for Transportation Research and Education to Montana State University
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta
today announced a grant of $1.8 million to Montana State University – Western
Transportation Institute in support of advanced transportation-related research
to make rural transportation and travel safer, more efficient and more
convenient.
"President Bush knows the importance a safe, reliable and efficient
transportation system has to our quality of life and the economy," Secretary
Mineta stated. "This transportation research and development grant is an
investment in Americans' ability to travel more safely and efficiently in the
years to come."
“I'm delighted to see this grant awarded to Montana State University,
which will allow our state to participate in an important role for rural
transportation while at the same time having a positive impact on Montana's
economy,” Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT) said.
More than 75 colleges and universities throughout the United States
participate in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) University
Transportation Center (UTC) 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/.
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