FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Contact: Patricia Klinger
Tel.: (202) 366-4831
RSPA 1-00
U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Announces
Grant to University of Alabama For Transportation Research
U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced a $655,500 Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) grant to the University of Alabama to operate a university-based center of excellence in transportation on its campus.
"President Clinton and Vice President Gore are committed to improving transportation safety, expanding education opportunities and protecting the environment," Secretary Slater said. "This grant will help ensure quality education and encourage students to explore technological innovation for the nation’s transportation system."
The grant supports the University Transportation Center for Alabama (UTCA), established in 1998 under a similar grant. UTCA is one of 33 University Transportation Centers (UTCs) funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Three University of Alabama campuses participate in UTCA: Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa. Collectively, the UTCs include more than 80 schools throughout the United States. All of the centers conduct combined programs of research, education, and technology transfer activities.
"Working with the University of Alabama will help secure some of the best and brightest minds for transportation in the 21st century and encourage innovative transportation research and development," RSPA Administrator Kelley S. Coyner said.
UTCA specializes in management and safety of transportation systems. Its objective is to improve management techniques available for multimodal transportation systems in order to enhance system safety.
The UTC Program already has produced more than 1,200 research reports and involved more than 3,500 university students and faculty in the study of transportation. UTC Program grants must be matched by recipients on a dollar-for-dollar basis, doubling the value of the federal investment.
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