| DOT Liaison |
A representative from USDOT who helps to ensure that UTCM research is supportive of the national strategy for surface transportation research. |
| FTA |
Federal Transit Administration – the modal agency of USDOT that focuses on public transportation |
| ITE |
Institute of Transportation Engineers |
| P3 |
Public Private Partnerships |
| PI |
Principal Investigator – professional staff or faculty member in charge of technical, financial, and administrative conduct of a UTCM project. |
| Project |
An expert from the transportation industry selected to serve as a technical |
| Monitor |
advisor on a UTCM research project and whose expertise and/or experience includes a familiarity of the technical aspects of the topic being researched. |
| RITA |
Research and Innovative Technology Administration – the agency within USDOT that administers the UTCP |
| RFPS |
Request for Problem Statements, issued once a year by UTCM, to solicit research ideas for potential inclusion in UTCM’s research program. |
| SAFETEA-LU |
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users was enacted August 10, 2005, as Public Law 109-59. SAFETEA-LU authorizes the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 5-year period 2005-2009. |
| SWUTC |
Southwest Region University Transportation Center - a consortium of three universities (TAMU University, Texas Southern University, and University of Texas at Austin) formed in 1988 as a Region 6 Center of Excellence in the UTC program. |
| T2 |
Technology Transfer |
| TAMRF |
TAMU Research Foundation - a non-profit, private entity established by TAMUS to perform contracting services for TAMUS institutions; located in College Station. |
| TAMU |
Texas A&M University - the nation’s sixth largest university in enrollment, with 45,000 students at the main campus in College Station. TAMU ranks among the top 20 public universities by "U.S. News and World Report" in 2005, and was also in the top 5 in its "Best Values" ratings. |
| TAMUS |
Texas A&M University System - the parent unit of TAMU and TTI. |
| TRB |
Transportation Research Board |
| TSTI |
The Texas Summer Transportation Institute has been presenting summer programs for high school students since 1999. TSTI is part of a national USDOT program and is sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration and a joint public-private partnership. |
| TTI |
Texas Transportation Institute - located at TAMU, TTI is the largest university-based transportation research center in the U.S. |
| TxDOT |
Texas Department of Transportation - the state’s primary transportation operating agency. |
| Title III UTC |
A UTC designated in Title III of SAFETEA-LU and administered through the UTCP. Unlike other UTC designations, Title III Centers are funded through FTA and have no dollar-for-dollar match requirement. UTCM is a Title III UTC. |
| USDOT |
United States Department of Transportation |
| UTC |
University Transportation Center – A university-based transportation center funded through the UTCP. |
| UTCM |
University Transportation Center for Mobility – a Title III UTC designated by SAFETEA-LU, located at TAMU/TTI. UTCM is a part of the UTCP. |
| UTCP |
The University Transportation Centers Program – administered by RITA within the USDOT, the UTCP has as its vision a program of " Internationally recognized centers of excellence, fully integrated within institutions of higher learning, that serve as a vital source of leaders who are prepared to meet the nation’s need for safe, efficient and environmentally sound movement of people and goods." The UTCP’s mission is "To advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through the mechanisms of education, research and technology transfer." |
