SLATER ANNOUNCES $1.8 MILLION GRANT TO UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Topics:  Rodney E. Slater

USDOT Research & Special Projects Administration
October 20, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 20, 1998
Contact: William Vincent or Patricia Klinger
Tel.: (202) 366-4831
RSPA 25-98

MINNEAPOLIS – U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater today announced the award of a $1.8 million federal grant to the University of Minnesota for transportation research and education.

"President Clinton is committed to transportation safety, environmental protection and education," said Secretary Slater. "This grant will ensure quality education and encourage students to expand their minds in the areas of technological innovation for the nation’s transportation system now and into the 21st century."

The $1.8 million grant will be used to operate the Institute for Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Concepts at the University of Minnesota . In the coming year, the institute will continue with important research and educational projects on intelligent highways and intelligent vehicles with a special emphasis on the Year 2000 computer problem, which could cause disruptions to advanced transportation technologies.

The University of Minnesota’s research institute is participating in the nationwide University Research Institutes program that was created by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and recently reauthorized in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century. The purpose of the program is to advance U.S. technology and expertise through research, technology transfer and education in university-level curricula. Each institute conducts activities in different areas of transportation research.