The U.S. Department of Transportation notified the Texas Congressional Delegation that Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) was selected to lead a historic national-tier University Transportation Center (UTC). Joined by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), and Texas A&M University, PVAMU will lead the National Center for Infrastructure Transformation, which will focus on enhancing the durability and extending the life of the nation’s infrastructure.

Chancellor John Sharp, who has encouraged the universities and agencies of the A&M System to work together in applying for federal programs, praised the historic result.

“Prairie View is the first HBCU to lead a national UTC, and we are proud to bring this to Texas, particularly when the national centers have historically been on the East and West coasts,” said Chancellor Sharp. “This is what can be accomplished when we combine the research expertise of one of our universities with the resources of the A&M System, and this team will achieve a great result for the state of Texas and the nation.”

The National Center for Infrastructure Transformation will receive $4 million per year for five years and is one of only five awarded national-tier centers. With strong capabilities to address the infrastructure issues of both urban and rural areas across all transportation modes, the work of this innovative center will improve durability and resilience across the country for years to come.

“I am delighted that this award has put Prairie View A&M University’s long-held transportation research expertise on the national stage,” said Dr. Judy Perkins, P.E., who will serve as center director. “Prairie View A&M University’s leadership, expertise, and spirit of innovation will, as the Center’s name suggests, work to transform our nation’s infrastructure over the next five years and beyond.”

Along with TTI, TEES, and Texas A&M, PVAMU is joined in the consortium by Rutgers University, Michigan State University, Arizona State University and Blinn College.

Additionally, TTI’s Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health received funding of $2 million per year for five years. This re-award is recognition of the center’s proven track record and will continue its high-quality research at the intersection of transportation and public health that began in 2016.