Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Wednesday, July 16, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC –– U.S. Senator Kit Bond and Representative Jo Ann Emerson today announced that the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) will send Missouri more than $900,000 for the University of Missouri-Rolla’s program for transportation research and education.

“A modern transportation system is critical to the future of Missouri’s economy. With programs like the one at the University of Missouri-Rolla we can move our roads into the 21st century," said Bond, who as a member of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Department of Transportation. “Also, these dollars will help the University of Missouri-Rolla continue to be a magnet for top-notch students.”

"The University of Missouri-Rolla is a driving force in meeting our state's transportation needs. These funds will supplement the continued use of new technologies to improve testing methods of construction materials, to advance engineering design techniques, and to keep the University at the forefront of transportation research. This is a great thing for the University, for Southern Missouri, and for the entire state," said Emerson.

The $906,000 in grant money will support the Center for Infrastructure Engineering Studies (CIES), which is one of 33 University Transportation Centers (UTC) funded by the Department of Transportation. Bond and Emerson also announced $900,000 in federal dollars for this program in the last fiscal year.

The CIES at Rolla focuses on addressing national needs in the areas of transportation infrastructure focusing on advanced materials and non-destructive testing (NDT) technologies. This involves: Development, understanding, and use of new more durable construction material and NDT methods; Installation processes and engineering design structures such as highways, bridges and buildings; Testing, monitoring, and evaluation of new and repaired structures; Standardization and code approval of products and design protocols; Education and technology transfer.

Advancing national transportation needs, in particular, the safe and secure movement of hazardous materials to industry and consumers via all modes of transportation is one of the main goals of UTC programs, like the one at Rolla.