The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded Washington State University (WSU) a $7.5 million grant to lead a national university transportation center.
The center, one of seven in the United States, will focus on extending the lifespan of and improving the durability of transportation infrastructure by supporting education, workforce development, industry and public partnerships, research, and technology.
WSU will lead a consortium of 10 universities and will provide program management, fiscal management, and other services for the center.
Researchers will examine new materials, nondestructive ways to evaluate the condition of infrastructure, and performance management and resilience. The goal also is to develop cost-effective solutions.
“This award is more national recognition of our success in providing practical answers for everyday problems,” WSU President Kirk Schulz said. “It’s also an indicator of the caliber of our research in this field. We look forward to providing solutions that address the nation’s transportation challenges.”
The majority of the nation’s infrastructure is more than 40 years old.
One out of every five highway miles is in poor condition, and more than 9 percent of bridges are structurally deficient, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The society has been giving U.S. infrastructure a grade of D or D+ since the 1990s.