Kaine, Warner Announce That Virginia-Led Consortium Will Recieve $5M Grant For Research On High-Tech Transportation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced today that a consortium of universities including the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Old Dominion University have received a $5 million grant to conduct crucial research and development of energy efficient and environmentally sustainable modes of transportation. The Department of Transportation grant, which was awarded to the Mid-Atlantic Transportation Sustainability University Transportation Center (MATS UTC), will allow these Virginia academic institutions to work toward promoting environmental sustainability, improving infrastructure resilience and adaptation to extreme weather, expanding freight mobility, and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

“I am excited about the work this grant will make possible,” Senator Warner said. “We desperately need to improve the condition of our nation’s infrastructure, and efficiency gains through this kind of research will be key to that goal. I congratulate UVA, Tech and ODU for receiving this grant, and thank them for their leadership on this important issue.”

“The Connected Vehicle/Infrastructure University Transportation Center conducts nationally recognized research on transportation technologies that bolster safety, support industry innovation, and provide important data to drive smart transportation policy decisions,” said Senator Kaine. “I commend the Department of Transportation for recognizing the importance of this work and congratulate the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion University and the other partners in this endeavor.”

MATS UTC serves as the focal point for the federally designated Region 3, serving the Virginia, D.C., West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania areas.

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