Center for Transportation Research UT Austin

The Center for Transportation Research (CTR) conducts transportation research and provides educational opportunities for students of the University of Texas, including summer internships.{{cite web|title=UT-Austin Education Program|url=http://swutc.tamu.edu/utaeducation.htm|work=SWUTC Education|publisher=Southwest Region University Transportation Center|accessdate=January 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120410022120/http://swutc.tamu.edu/utaeducation.htm|archive-date=April 10, 2012|url-status=dead}} The Center's primary research has been in such topics as concrete, materials research, pavement rehabilitation, bridge design, transportation planning and administration, modeling and forecasting, sustainable transportation, and technological innovations.{{cite web|title=Research Strengths|url=http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/about/research_strengths.html|work=About CTR|publisher=Center for Transportation Research|accessdate=January 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212174258/http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/about/research_strengths.html|archive-date=February 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}

In any given year, CTR administers more than 100 research projects and interagency contracts with combined budgets exceeding $13 million.{{cite web|title=Search Results: Organization: University of Texas, Austin, Record Type: RIP|url=http://rip.trb.org/search/search.aspx?f1=k%3A%3AKeywords+%28Title%2C+Abstract%2C+or+Index+Terms%29&t1&ddlType=RIP&contract&orgType=A&orgid=1969&txtOrgs=University+of+Texas%2C+Austin|work=TRB Research in Progress|publisher=Transportation Research Board|accessdate=January 20, 2012}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|title=2011 Annual Report: Research and Technology Implementation Office|url=http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/library/pubs/gov/annual_report_2011.pdf|publisher=TxDOT|accessdate=January 12, 2012}}{{cite web|title=FY 2012 Research Program|url=http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/rti/research_program_2012.pdf|publisher=TxDOT|accessdate=January 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220015134/http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/rti/research_program_2012.pdf|archive-date=February 20, 2012|url-status=dead}} Approximately 45 faculty researchers{{cite web|title=CTR Faculty Researchers|url=http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/research/researchers_fac.html|work=Center for Transportation Research website|publisher=Center for Transportation Research|accessdate=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118054642/http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/research/researchers_fac.html|archive-date=January 18, 2012|url-status=dead}} and 10 professional researchers{{cite web|title=CTR's Professional Researchers|url=http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/research/researchers_pro.html|work=Center for Transportation Research website|publisher=Center for Transportation Research|accessdate=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118042910/http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/research/researchers_pro.html|archive-date=January 18, 2012|url-status=dead}} work at CTR. Approximately 60 graduate and undergraduate students (full-time equivalency) participate in the university's transportation program. Currently there are eight transportation research faculty.{{cite web |title=Faculty |url=http://www.caee.utexas.edu/dept/area/trans/people/profs.html |work=Transportation Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin |accessdate=January 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227061429/http://www.caee.utexas.edu/dept/area/trans/people/profs.html |archive-date=December 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }} University of Texas students pursuing masters or doctoral degrees perform much of the hands-on research.

In addition to its own staff researchers, the center partners with other affiliated UT research centers, including Ferguson Structural Engineering Laboratory, the International Center for Aggregates Research, the Center for Electromechanics, the Construction Industry Institute, the Construction Materials Research Group, and the Center for Research in Water Resources.{{cite web|title=Affiliated Centers|url=http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/about/affiliates.html|work=About CTR|publisher=Center for Transportation Research|accessdate=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220214401/http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/about/affiliates.html|archive-date=December 20, 2011|url-status=dead}} Researchers also participate in joint studies with Texas Transportation Institute and other universities.

Most of CTR's current research projects are sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Research and Technology Implementation Office.{{cite web|title=Research|url=http://www.txdot.gov/txdot_library/publications/research.htm|work=Texas Department of Transportation Publications|publisher=Texas Department of Transportation}}{{cite web|title=Current Projects|url=http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/research/current.html|work=Center for Transportation Research website|publisher=Center for Transportation Research|accessdate=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220214421/http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/research/current.html|archive-date=December 20, 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite book|title=Research and Technology Implementation Office Research Program FY 2012|year=2011|publisher=The Texas Department of Transportation, Research and Technology Implementation Office|location=Austin, Texas|url=http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/rti/research_program_2012.pdf|accessdate=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220015134/http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/rti/research_program_2012.pdf|archive-date=February 20, 2012|url-status=dead}} Other sponsors of research include the U.S. Department of Transportation,{{cite web|title=About the SWUTC|url=http://swutc.tamu.edu/aboutswutc.htm|work=Southwest Region University Transportation Center website|accessdate=January 20, 2012|quote=The U.S. DOT furnishes an annual grant of $2 million to the SWUTC, provided that at least an equivalent amount of non-federal funding can be matched for SWUTC functions.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131104238/http://swutc.tamu.edu/aboutswutc.htm|archive-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=dead}} the National Science Foundation (NSF), North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO),{{cite web|title=Item 3. Consider a resolution authorizing the Director to negotiate and execute an Interlocal Agreement with the Center for Transportation Research (CTR) at UT-Austin to collocate a portion of the CAMPO staff at the CTR facility|url=http://austintx.swagit.com/play/10052011-554|work=CAMPO Transportation Policy Board Meeting|publisher=City of Austin, Texas|accessdate=January 23, 2012|format=Flash video with transcript|date=April 11, 2011}} Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the City of Austin.

Each year, CTR holds an annual symposium where transportation professionals present research results and discuss ongoing projects.

CTR was formed in 1979 by the merging of the Center for Highway Research (established in 1963 as an administrative unit of the College of Engineering) and the Council for Advanced Transportation Studies (established in 1972 as a multidisciplinary transportation research and educational organization).{{cite book|title=Annual Report 1967-1968|date=October 1968|publisher=Center for Highway Research, The University of Texas at Austin|location=Austin, Texas|pages=1}}{{cite book|title=Annual Report 1979-1980|year=1980|publisher=Center for Transportation Research, Bureau of Engineering Research, The University of Texas at Austin|location=Austin, Texas|author=McCullough, B. Frank|quote=...in the 17 years of the Center for Highway Research and the 8 years of the Council for Advanced Transportation Studies... we have now blended the features of both these programs into one...}}

Directors

• 1963-1979: Clyde Lee (established the Center for Highway Research)
• 1980-1999: B. Frank McCullough{{cite book|title=Annual Report 1979-1980|year=1980|publisher=Center for Transportation Research, Bureau of Engineering Research, The University of Texas at Austin|location=Austin, Texas|author=McCullough, B. Frank}}
• 1999-2012: Randy B. Machemehl, who also serves as Associate Director of the Southwest Region University Transportation Center headquartered at Texas A&M University{{cite web|title=Office of the Director|url=http://swutc.tamu.edu/directory.htm|work=Staff Directory|publisher=SWUTC|accessdate=January 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131104631/http://swutc.tamu.edu/directory.htm|archive-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=dead}}
• 2012–2018: Chandra Bhat {{cite web|title=Cockrell School Names New Director for Center for Transportation|url=http://www.engr.utexas.edu/news/7350-bhatdirector|work=News and Events|publisher=Cockrell School of Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin|accessdate=April 4, 2013}}
• 2018-present: Amit Bhasin{{cite web |title=Announcing Our New Director: Amit Bhasin |url=https://ctr.utexas.edu/2018/03/08/announcing-our-new-director-amit-bhasin/ |website=CTR |publisher=Center for Transportation Research |accessdate=July 31, 2018}}

CTR programs include the Austin and Dallas InterAgency Contract (IAC) projects, the Network Modeling Center, the Intercity Passenger and High-Speed Rail project, Mega-Region Freight, the Laredo Border Master Plan, the Advanced Institute for Transportation Infrastructure Engineering and Management, the Cooperative Research Program, the Texas Pavement Preservation Center, the Southwest Region University Transportation Center, the Strategic Research Program, and the Superpave Asphalt Technology Program.

The CTR Library is a special library with a focus on transportation research.{{cite web |last=Dresley |first=Susan C. |title= Directory of Transportation Libraries and Information Centers |edition= revised 8th |url= http://ntl.bts.gov/tldir/index.html |publisher= National Transportation Library Bureau of Transportation Statistics Research and Innovative Technology Administration, United States Department of Transportation |accessdate= November 15, 2013}} It primarily collects reports and products from government-funded transportation research as well as other materials that support research at the Texas Department of Transportation and at the Center for Transportation Research. The library's collection includes reports and other publications from TxDOT and research programs at other State departments of transportation, the Southwest Regional University Transportation Center (SWUTC), the Transportation Research Board, the Federal Highway Administration, and other agencies involved with research in transportation engineering.{{cite web |title= Stacks Guide, CTR Library |url= http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/library/map.php?picture=10 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120805172900/http://www.utexas.edu/research/ctr/library/map.php?picture=10 |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 5, 2012 |work= Library |publisher= Center for Transportation Research Library |accessdate= January 20, 2012 }} Its materials and services are also available to the general public.

The library operates as the TxDOT Research and Technology Implementation Office's library (TxDOT Research Library).{{cite book |title= Research Manual |year=2009 |publisher= Texas Department of Transportation |url= http://onlinemanuals.txdot.gov/txdotmanuals/rtt/research_library.htm |edition=revised December 2009 |editor= Research and Technology Implementation Office |accessdate= May 22, 2012 |pages=1–11 |chapter=1 Introduction, Section 5 Research Library |quote= "Under an outsourcing contract, the Center for Transportation Research (CTR) Library, at The University of Texas at Austin is now the official depository for TxDOT’s research library collection. The CTR library contains materials previously housed at TxDOT and many additional transportation related materials, from many different sources."}}{{cite web |title= Research |url= http://www.txdot.gov/txdot_library/publications/research.htm |work= Texas Department of Transportation Publications |publisher= Texas Department of Transportation}}{{cite web |title=DIRECTORY OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT LIBRARIES |url= http://www.dot.state.mn.us/library/dotlist.html#t |publisher= Minnesota Department of Transportation, MnDOT Library |accessdate= January 23, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Libraries|url=http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/library/research/resources/states/library.htm|work=State by state transportation resources|publisher=Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Library|accessdate=January 23, 2012}} It serves as an official repository for reports and other deliverables from the TxDOT cooperative research program (reports from all involved universities) and provides reference services, library material loans, and report distribution services to TxDOT staff.

The library is a member of the Western [http://ntl.bts.gov/networking/index.html Transportation Knowledge Network] (WTKN).{{cite web|title=WTKN Members|url=http://wtkn.org/?page_id=20|work=WTKN -- Western Transportation Knowledge Network|publisher=Western Transportation Knowledge Network (WTKN|accessdate=January 23, 2012}} The library is not a member of Online Computer Library Center (OCLC); its holdings are not listed in WorldCat.{{cite web|title=Find an OCLC library|url=http://www.oclc.org/contacts/libraries/results.asp|publisher=OCLC|accessdate=January 23, 2012}}

As of January 2012, the library lists almost 22,000 items in its catalog.{{cite web|title=Search Results: Title contains *|url=http://library.ctr.utexas.edu/dbtw-wpd/textbase/advanced.htm|work=CTR Library Catalog, Advanced Search|publisher=Center for Transportation Research Library|accessdate=January 20, 2012}}

CTR researchers have received awards from various transportation groups including the Transportation Research Board (TRB),{{cite web|url=http://www.trb.org/AboutTRB/BurggrafAward.aspx|title=The Fred Burggraf Award|publisher=TRB|accessdate=January 12, 2012|quote=2009. JENNIFER DUTHIE AND S. TRAVIS WALLER, Incorporating Environmental Justice Measures into Equilibrium-Based Network Design.}}{{cite web|title=Pyke Johnson Award|url=http://www.trb.org/AboutTRB/JohnsonAward.aspx|publisher=TRB|accessdate=January 12, 2012|quote=2008. JESSICA Y. GUO, CHANDRA R. BHAT, and RACHAEL B. COOPERMAN, Effect of the Built Environment on Motorized and Non-Motorized Trip Making: Substitutive Complementary, or Synergistic?}}{{cite web|title=Roy W. Crum Distinguished Service Award|url=http://www.trb.org/AboutTRB/CrumAward.aspx|publisher=TRB|accessdate=January 12, 2012|quote=2004. Sandra Rosenbloom.}}{{cite web|title=D. Grant Mickle Award|url=http://www.trb.org/AboutTRB/MickleAward.aspx|publisher=TRB|accessdate=January 12, 2012|quote=1998. BENJAMIN McKEEVER, CARL HAAS, JOSE WEISSMAN, and RICHARD GREER, Life Cycle Cost-Benefit Model for Road Weather Information Systems}}{{cite web|title=W. N. Carey, Jr., Distinguished Service Award|url=http://www.trb.org/AboutTRB/CareyAward.aspx|publisher=TRB|accessdate=January 12, 2012|quote=1998. C. Michael Walton}}{{cite web|title=Thomas B. Deen Distinguished Lectureship|url=http://www.trb.org/AboutTRB/DeenDistinguishedLectureship.aspx|publisher=TRB|accessdate=January 12, 2012|quote=1995. C. MICHAEL WALTON, Deployment of Transportation Research: An Enterprise in Transition}} Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS),{{cite news|title=2008 Gala Re-Cap|url=http://www.wtsinternational.org/Chapters.aspx?ID=6902|accessdate=January 23, 2012|newspaper=Heart of Texas Chapter Newsletter|date=Fall 2008|page=2|quote=Woman of the Year: Dr. Kara Kockelman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212173057/http://www.wtsinternational.org/Chapters.aspx?ID=6902|archive-date=February 12, 2012|url-status=dead}} Eno Transportation Foundation’s Leadership Development Conference, National Highway Institute, Federal Highway Administration, the Texas chapter of Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America), the Structural Engineers Association of Texas,{{cite web |title=HONORARY RECOGNITION |url=http://www.seaot.org/awards_honorary_recognition.cfm |publisher=Structural Engineers Association of Texas |accessdate=January 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209091227/http://www.seaot.org/awards_honorary_recognition.cfm |archive-date=February 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }} and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).{{cite web|title=Wilbur S. Smith Award|url=http://www.asce.org/Content.aspx?id=17487|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20130406233954/http://www.asce.org/Content.aspx?id%3D17487|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2013|publisher=ASCE|accessdate=January 12, 2012|quote=2008. RANDY B. MACHEMEHL, Ph.D., P.E., L.S., M.ASCE}}{{cite web|title=FACT SHEET: STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND ALUMNI|url=http://www.caee.utexas.edu/dept/area/trans/activities/Fact_Sheet_Spring_07.pdf|work=TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN|publisher=The University of Texas at Austin Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering|accessdate=January 23, 2012|format=PDF|date=Spring 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615201002/http://www.caee.utexas.edu/dept/area/trans/activities/Fact_Sheet_Spring_07.pdf|archive-date=June 15, 2010|url-status=dead}}

• [http://ctr.utexas.edu Center for Transportation Research]
• [http://www.ce.utexas.edu/dept/area/trans/trans.html Transportation Engineering at the CAEE, UT Austin]
• [http://swutc.tamu.edu/ Southwest Region University Transportation Center]
• [http://www.txdot.gov/inside-txdot/forms-publications/publications/research.html Texas Department of Transportation Research Publications]
• [http://wtkn.org/ Western Transportation Knowledge Network]

{{Reflist|30em}}

Category:Organizations based in Austin, Texas

Category:University of Texas at Austin

Category:Transportation in Austin, Texas