Contact: Phil Hearn
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The National Center for Intermodal Transportation--an academic partnership between the University of Denver and Mississippi State University--is receiving a $2.4 million federal grant.
NCIT officials said the funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation will be equally shared by both institutions for transportation research and education projects over the next four years.
"We have enjoyed a productive and rewarding six-year relationship with University of Denver faculty and look forward to continuing our work to improve the nation's intermodal transportation system," said Royce Bowden, NCIT co-director and head of MSU's department of industrial engineering, which is a part of the Bagley College of Engineering.
Patrick Sherry--associate professor in the counseling program and a board member of the Intermodal Transportation Institute at Denver and the other co-director--said the university collaboration "is resulting in significant contributions to the body of knowledge of intermodal transportation, and to the public awareness and information of the benefits of an integrated system for the movement of both passengers and freight."
NCIT was established as a University Transportation Center with a federal appropriation of $1.6 million in 1998 after the initial signing of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. The center is a major national resource for research, educational and technology transfer activities involving intermodal transportation.
The latest $2.4 million grant was provided as part of the $286.4 billion, six-year reauthorization bill of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act. Covering fiscal years 2004-09, the bill was signed into law by President Bush Aug. 10.
Denver officials said the bill received strong support from members of the Colorado congressional delegation, including Sen. Wayne Allard, a Republican, and Rep. Diana DeGette, a Democrat.
MSU President Charles Lee also praised the "strength" of Mississippi senators Trent Lott and Thad Cochran, both R-Miss., as well as Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., and Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., in helping secure the transportation reauthorization.
"This sustained funding for NCIT will definitely enhance the research and education activities surrounding intermodal transportation," said Lee.
Mississippian Gil Carmichael, former administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration and senior board chairman for the University of Denver's Intermodal Transportation Institute, said, "Without the necessary funding, research initiatives such as this one would not be possible."
NCIT officials have observed that, while the United States has had great success with the development of different modes of transportation, a lack of integration has made it difficult to transfer passengers and freight from one mode to another. Some modes are often over-utilized, creating delays and hazards, while other modes are under-utilized and have excess capability, they added.
The NCIT contends the overall contribution of the national transportation system can be increased by the creation of an intermodal system based on a more balanced and rational use of all modes of transportation.
"Our challenge involves looking at how individual modes can be connected, governed and managed as a seamless and sustainable transportation system," said Bowden.
"The fundamental objective of intermodalism is not to optimize a single mode of transportation, but to integrate the modes into an optimal, sustainable and ethical system," he added. "Such a system should promote efficiency, safety, mobility, economic growth and trade, national security, protection of the national environment, and enhancement of human welfare."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information at MSU, contact Dr. Bowden at (662) 325-7623 or bowden@ie.msstate.edu, or Julie Lemons at 325-8098 or jlemons@engr.msstate.edu.
AT D.U., Dr. Sherry may be reached at (303) 871-2495 or psherry@du.edu; or Dave Brendsel at 871-2775 or dbrendsel@du.edu.