The DOT UTC Program: Past & Present
1987 | The University Transportation Centers (UTC) program began as part of the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act. The program established 10 national transportation centers. |
1991 | The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) expanded the program, adding four more national centers and six University Research institutes (URIs). ISTEA required the URIs to have a transportation R&D focus. |
1998 | The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) extended the program once again, establishing 13 more UTCs. The legislation made education one of the primary objectives of the UTCs and required that they match all federal funds dollar for dollar. |
2006 | The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, enacted on August 10, 2005 authorized FY2005-2009 funds for grants to establish and operate up to 60 University Transportation Centers (UTCs) throughout the United States. Twenty of these centers were competitively selected during 2006 and forty centers are located at institutions named in the legislation. |
| Today | Under the management of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, the UTC program continues to expand its vision for internationally recognized centers of excellence, fully integrated within institutions of higher learning, that serve as a vital source of leaders who are prepared to meet the nation's need for safe, efficient and environmentally sound movement of people and goods. |
Information courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
To learn more about the work of the UTC Program, click here to view the 2009 University Transportation Centers Points of Pride publication by the U.S. DOT.
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