Arizona Invests $6.5M in Tri-University Transportation Research Initiative

Arizona’s New Transportation Institute: A Collaborative Initiative for Innovation

Arizona is embarking on a groundbreaking journey to revolutionize its transportation research and infrastructure. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is allocating a substantial $6.5 million this fiscal year to a new tri-university consortium, the Arizona Transportation Institute (AZTI), based at the University of Arizona. This initiative marks a significant collaboration among the state’s three public universities, focusing on vital research areas such as safety, sustainability, and efficiency.

Pending further approvals, ADOT plans to continue this funding with an additional $2.5 million annually over the next two years, potentially bringing the total investment to $11.5 million.

AZTI is modeled after successful transportation centers in other states, providing a platform for collaborative research projects that promise to benefit Arizona residents significantly. The institute aims to attract additional federal research funding, enhance transportation engineering education, and foster workforce development.

Representatives of ADOT, the Federal Highway Administration, and university engineering programs mark the partnership creating the Arizona Transportation Institute. From left: Charles Chadwell of Northern Arizona University; Kyle Squires of the Arizona State University Ira Fulton Schools of Engineering; David W. Hahn of the U of A; Karla Petty, FHWA division administrator for Arizona; and Jennifer Toth, ADOT director.

Arizona Department of Transportation

The Arizona Board of Regents sanctioned the institute in September. The partnership was officially celebrated on November 22 in Phoenix during an ADOT-hosted ceremony, which included the signing of a letter of understanding.

“We’re tremendously excited to partner with talented faculty and students in a way that can improve the lives of Arizonans, support our state’s economy and promote transportation engineering as an exciting and essential career,” stated Jennifer Toth, ADOT Director.

AZTI has already initiated eight projects, tackling issues from enhancing asphalt mixes to exploring if native plant landscaping can minimize roadway maintenance costs post-wildfire. Safety remains a top priority, with University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University researchers working on state-specific safety recommendations, including the best placement for median barriers and traffic control lights.

Advancing Economic Growth Through Science

Transportation plays a crucial role in the daily lives of Arizonans and the prosperity of key industries such as mining, agriculture, renewable energy, and tourism, remarked David W. Hahn, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the U of A College of Engineering. “This collaborative approach is certain to drive economic growth and scientific progress,” Hahn emphasized. “I’m grateful to ADOT for investing in the future of Arizona and empowering university engineers and students to combine ideas and efforts.”

Yao-Jan Wu, AZTI’s executive director and U of A professor, highlighted the institute’s role in simplifying proposal and funding processes, enabling research teams to harness statewide strengths.

Yao-Jan Wu, U of A professor of civil and architectural engineering and mechanics, will serve as executive director of the new institute.

Wu anticipates that AZTI’s projects will attract more grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation, as federal support often hinges on strong collaborations and innovative findings.

Both state and federal projects offer universities a platform to involve students and cultivate experts in a sector facing “a severe and growing workforce shortage,” as noted in a University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies report.

“The more money we bring to the state, the more we can develop the workforce. We can fund students to engage in the research and get them excited about transportation engineering,” Wu explained, also noting outreach efforts to draw diverse talent to the field.

Faculty from the U of A, NAU, and Arizona State University are exploring ways to incorporate transportation topics into existing programs, such as the U of A College of Engineering’s Summer Engineering Academy for high school students. Wu is also engaging professional organizations like the American Council of Engineering Companies and the Institute of Transportation Engineers, which has a student chapter at the U of A.

AZTI’s planning and research committees will review the next round of proposals in February to initiate additional projects. As the institute grows, Wu plans to launch a tech transfer initiative, collaborating with engineering firms to ensure research findings are effectively applied in the transportation industry.