Tech to target highway safety and other transportation issues

Patch Staff Reports

Transportation infrastructure concerns rank as one of the top issues in Georgia and the Southeast. Last month’s designation of the as the lead for one of 10 national Tier One University Transportation Centers (UTC) by the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) represents a positive step toward developing solutions to transportation challenges facing the state and region.

Funded by a $3.5 million federal grant and an additional $3.5 million in matching funds from various state transportation departments, the Woodruff Foundation and others for the first two years, the UTC will bring together a consortium of universities in Georgia, Florida and Alabama including the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Southern Polytechnic State University, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Florida International University and University of Central Florida. Known as the National Center for Transportation System Productivity and Management, the Georgia Tech UTC will focus on transportation issues of importance to the nation, state and metropolitan areas.

In a related program, Georgia Tech has also been named as a collaborator in the US DOT’s Regional UTC led by the University of Florida. The University of Florida and Georgia Tech will be joined by Auburn University, Florida International University, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Mississippi State University to form a regional consortium that will focus on transportation issues impacting the Southeast. Georgia DOT will also provide some matching funds for this effort.

“Georgia Tech is uniquely qualified to lead the University Transportation Center. It is home to one of the largest and most accomplished transportation and logistics research programs in the U.S. and is responsible for many of the strategic improvements that have been made to Georgia’s infrastructure,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “I applaud the efforts of all of those who were involved in this important project.”

According to Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson, the UTC designation provides national recognition of Georgia Tech’s capabilities and expertise in contributing to transportation solutions for the nation, state and metropolitan area.

“We are pleased to take a leading role in working with our industry, government and university partners to devise solutions for our state and regional transportation challenges,” he said. “I want to thank the US Department of Transportation, Governor Deal, Georgia Department of Transportation, Woodruff  Foundation and the Georgia congressional delegation for their support of this important work."

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Peterson and Gov. Deal were again together Monday on campus to announce the REACH Scholarship, which will provide some of the state’s low-income students money for college through a privately funded scholarship program.

Some students could receive up to $10,000 for college - $2,500 per year – and Peterson announced that his school will match the $2,500 scholarship for any REACH student who attends Tech. Read more about the REACH Scholarship program here.

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Finally, Team Angry Sun and Team Rocket, comprised of College of Computing students, recently took first place among 209 participants in Atlanta’s Global Game Jam held at SCAD Atlanta, last month. The winning entries were Team Angry Sun’s “Sacrif<3” and Team Rocket’s “Pangu.”  Team Angry Sun and Team Rocket will go on to participate in SIEGE 2012, the Southeast’s game expo.

- The Georgia Institute of Technology contributed to this report