Creation of the NTC

Since the 1970's, the Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) has provided substantial transportation research funding to the University of Nebraska. Utilizing NDOR funding as a base of support, the University of Nebraska was able to build several research programs including the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF), Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC), and the Center for Infrastructure Research (CIR). In addition, UNL became very active in railroad research with both the Federal Railroad Administration and industrial support. Working individually, these research programs have established both national and international reputations for research excellence in their respective areas. NDOR also sponsored creation of the Nebraska Technology Transfer Center at the University of Nebraska. This program, designed to provide training for county and municipal transportation workers, has gained a deserved reputation for excellence.

In recognition of the success of the transportation research programs at the University of Nebraska and the strong relationship between NDOR and NU, John Craig, Director of NDOR, proposed creating a University-based transportation center. This center would integrate all facets of transportation research, education and outreach to create a multi-disciplinary transportation program that could better address the research needs of the state of Nebraska, the region, and the United States. In response to this request Dr. David Allen, Dean of the College of Engineering, Dr. Dean Sicking, Director of the Mid-west Roadside Safety Center and Dr. Laurence Rilett, Director of the Mid-America Transportation Center, developed a proposal for the NTC in the spring of 2006. The proposal, with full support by Dr. Prem Paul, UNL's Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies, was accepted by the NU Board of Regents in April 2006.