University Transportation Centers Program FY 2025 NOFO

The objectives of each of these Centers are to: • Advance transportation expertise and technology in the varied disciplines that comprise the field of transportation through education, research, and technology transfer activities; • Provide for a critical multimodal transportation knowledge base outside of DOT; and • Address critical workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation leaders with respect to the statutory research priorities. In support of these objectives, UTCs are also expected to: • Conduct research that identifies and addresses gaps in current transportation knowledge and practice, ensuring that projects respond to real-world needs and emerging challenges; • Foster the development and application of innovative concepts, tools, and technologies that have the potential to transform transportation systems and services, including enhancing the travel experience and ensuring reliable delivery of goods and services for American families; • Contribute to the advancement of the state of the art and the state of practice in transportation by generating actionable insights, scalable solutions, and evidence-based recommendations for public and private sector stakeholders; • Ensure that research findings inform the development of effective regulations, policies, and standards, supporting evidence-based decision-making at the local, State, and Federal levels; and • Conduct technology development and transfer to practice and commercialization of such technology to transform transportation and advance DOT priorities. Although every Center has the same broad objectives, DOT encourages variety among the program participants and in the approaches individual Centers take to achieve program objectives. DOT encourages unique approaches to research, education, workforce development and technology transfer, building on or reflecting institutional expertise, facilities, and partnerships. DOT desires UTCs to engage in breakthrough, advanced, and transformative research, education and workforce development, and technology transfer activities that cut across disciplines and span multiple modes of transportation. UTCs have an important role to play in helping to transform the Nation’s surface transportation system to achieve this vision, inclusive of rail, maritime, highway, pipelines, transit, and any surface links to aviation, and in a manner that enhances the travel experience and ensures reliable delivery of goods and services for American families.