2025 was a transformative year for the Nebraska Transportation Center (NTC) and its affiliated centers—Mid America Transportation Center (MATC), Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF), and Nebraska Clean Cities & Communities Coalition (NEC4). From expanding STEM education programs for students of all ages to hosting impactful workshops like the Workzone Safety Training and EV First Responder sessions, NTC strengthened its commitment to learning beyond the classroom. Research thrived with 49 active projects, multi-institution collaborations, and discussions on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. The year also marked significant milestones for faculty and staff, welcomed new experts in transportation technology, and established an Advisory Board to guide future efforts. As we look ahead to 2026, NTC is preparing for major events including the 20th anniversary celebration and the Transportation Research Board conference, and initiatives that will continue shaping the future of transportation.
Learning, Mentorship, and Community in Action
NTC and its three centers have significantly advanced education for students at every stage—from early learners to seasoned professionals. MATC has made major expansions to the Road, Rails, and Race Cars After School Program to bring the total up to 24 schools that have participated since its inception in 2010. Dr. Andrew Loken, a CEE Research Professor at MwRSF, visited Dawes Middle School for their STEM family night where over 50 families of middle school and high school students interested in STEM attended.
During the summer, a total of 57 high-school students participated in three overnight education programs hosted by MATC and NTC. The MATC STEM Academy students had a packed schedule incorporating 6 UNL departments and programs, and 4 off-campus partner organizations and individuals to lead them in STEM-focused activities. Discover Transportation Engineering connected students with 6 engineering firms and NDOT to participate in engaging transportation engineering activities focused on developing their problem-solving skills. There were 11 high-school students aboard the Tracks to the Future program where they conducted rail and train activities and explored career options. The program featured rail industry leaders Union Pacific and BNSF, as well as 5 other industry partners.
Campus initiatives created exceptional opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. NTC partnered with JEO Consulting Inc. to host the Nebraska Institute for Transportation Engineers (NITE) Student Meet and Greet, where 6 agencies, including JEO, met with students in Kiewitt Hall to network before being invited to attend the NITE general meeting. The Transportation Seminar Series was broadened in 2025 to offer professional development hours for practicing engineers to speak to students about their current work. The centers also provide valuable undergraduate employment opportunities, including an NEC4 intern who supports clean energy projects and events, and MwRSF student workers who play an integral role in ongoing research initiatives.
Education goes beyond the classroom and into the workforce here at NTC. The “Workzone Safety: Proactive Technology Training and Evaluation Workshop” invited CDL drivers and highway workers to highlight the progress of a proactive work zone warning system designed to deliver early warnings to both drivers and highway workers to enhance safety. The participants were able to test the system in a driving simulator and provide feedback to researchers. The NEC4 EV First Responder Training was held in York, NE and partnered with Southeast Community College to educate members of York’s Fire, Police, and Sherriff’s Departments on how to safely approach a vehicle during an emergency. NEC4 also partnered with LES at their Ride & Drive during National Drive Electric week where the public could test drive electric vehicles and hear from EV dealers and owners on what it is like to own an EV and the basics of public and at-home charging.
Aligning Academic Research with Industry Needs through Discussion and Multi-Institution Collaboration
Research is the core of the Nebraska Transportation Center. There are currently 49 active projects from UNL researchers that cover a wide range of transportation topics and address concerns across the field. Five of those projects are part of the MATC University Transportation Centers Department of Transportation grant, through which MATC funds and manages another 20 projects conducted by researchers at 5 partner institutions.
The Pooled Fund is an annually funded research program started by Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri in 1991 that sponsors roadside safety research by pooling state Department of Transportation funds and has grown over the years to include 18 member states. Back in April, MwRSF hosted the program’s Annual Meeting with sponsors where they discussed existing research projects and reviewed other member states’ projects and available federal efforts.
NTC is also working to expand collaboration between fellow faculty to address specific needs within the industry. The first “NTC Roundtable: Small Conversations = Big Ideas” covered the topic of Artificial Intelligence—what processes can it help streamline, can it be used for day-to-day tasks, where is the knowledge gap, and what safety and security measures need to be in place for its use? Six industry professionals from engineering firms, the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and transportation associations were present to converse with 7 faculty about AI in the transportation industry. The NDOT/University of Nebraska Research Summit offered another opportunity for UNL faculty to present their expertise and current projects to NDOT personnel, who expressed the Department’s needs for future research.
The People Behind the Work
NTC owes its innovation and success to the faculty and staff who make it happen. The newly established NTC Fellows program invites UNL faculty to benefit from a range of valuable opportunities designed to support their academic and professional growth by receiving funding opportunity announcements, invitations to events, and lower NTC equipment and services rates.
One of those fellows is the new Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr. Wissam Kontar. Dr. Kontar adds expertise to the department through his focus on transportation technology, autonomous mobility, and artificial intelligence. The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering also welcomed Dr. Qusai Alomari as a Research Professor after earning his Ph.D. from UNL while being a researcher at MwRSF, where he will remain to conduct research.
This was also a year of celebration for longstanding faculty and staff. MATC Director, Dr. Aemal Khattak celebrated 25 years, and MwRSF Director, Dr. Ron Faller celebrated 35. Additionally, 6 researchers and 3 staff reached milestone anniversaries at the university.
NTC also established an Advisory Board late this year consisting of members from the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Benesch, Crete Carrier, City of Lincoln, and Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) to help NTC make valuable, impactful efforts moving forward.
Looking Ahead: 2026 to be a Year of Connection, Collaboration, and Celebration
Great things are already planned for 2026 at NTC. In January, 22 UNL students and 24 faculty are attending the annual Transportation Research Board conference, multiple of which are presenting their current research.
The next NTC Roundtable will be held in the first quarter of next year and focus on advanced driving systems (ADS) to prioritize safety and security on the roadways when considering emerging technologies.
NEC4 is starting the year by discussing electric vehicles with college students to discover their views and opinions on EVs and to see what barriers there are in adoption among the younger generation. To build on what they learn, NEC4 will host a Ride & Drive on the UNL campus where students can test drive and learn more about electric vehicles. NEC4 is also hosting the 2026 Renewable Fuels Summit on February 18 at the Innovation Campus Conference Center to bring together fleets, fuel providers, and government municipalities to gain an understanding of clean transportation fueling options with ethanol, biodiesel, and natural gases.
To celebrate all we have accomplished, next year everyone affiliated with NTC will be invited to a large celebration to commemorate NTC’s 20th anniversary. The celebration will be combined with MwRSF, who passed their 50th this year. NTC is proud of all we have accomplished throughout our wide network and diverse affiliates, and we are looking forward to a new year of innovations and achievements!
