Multimodal Transportation and Infrastructure Consortium: Innovations inmultimodal freight & passenger transportationsystems and infrastructure to foster sustained economic development

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), utilizes the research, education and workforce development, and technology transfer capabilities of universities to provide transportation-related products and services. These products and services are required to support USDOT’s five strategic goals which are safety, state of good repair, economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and livable communities. These products and services are also required to address specific USDOT/RITA research topics. USDOT/RITA engages selected universities, or consortia, by way of the University Transportation Center Program (UTC). Through an October 2011 competition for available UTC grant funding, one of ten national UTCs was awarded to the Multimodal Transportation and Infrastructure Consortium (MTIC) which is comprised of Marshall University (lead institution), the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Hampton (Va.) University. MTIC’s response to the October 2011 competition identified numerous projects that would address transportation research, education and workforce development, and technology transfer needs. The Kentucky Transportation Center at the University of Kentucky will use its share of the grant award to address seven proposed projects and the associated administrative activities. This grant funding and the proposed projects will allow the Kentucky Transportation Center to improve its capabilities concerning multimodal transportation issues.