pacific nw transportation consortium region 10 Pactrans

From June 10-12, 2024, the PacTrans team participated in the 2024 Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Summer Meeting held in South Padre Island, Texas. This year’s event was hosted by the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).

Every year, our team eagerly anticipates these annual gatherings as a valuable opportunity for peer exchange with University Transportation Centers from all across the nation and government agencies. This year’s conference focused on enhancing workforce development, advancing technology transfer, strengthening community relationships through advisory boards, and providing general updates on topics such as grants and research databases.

PacTrans Director Yinhai Wang was featured on a panel titled “Lasting Effects of UTC Grants.” During this session, he delivered a presentation on “Developing Ongoing Collaborations with and Among State DOTs.” He emphasized the critical role of forming effective external advisory boards composed of strong community representatives. By aligning our research and projects with community needs, we not only foster better collaborations but also improve the likelihood of securing funding.

We are grateful for the experience and insights gained from the summer meeting, which will enhance our future efforts and collaborations.