Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to lead a national-tier University Transportation Center (UTC), making the school the first HBCU to lead a national UTC.

The UTC Program advances the state-of-the-art in transportation research and technology and develops the next generation of transportation professionals. 

PVAMU will lead the National Center for Infrastructure Transformation, which aims to focus on improving the durability and extending the life of the U.S.’s transportation infrastructure

“Prairie View is the first HBCU to lead a national UTC, and we are proud to bring this to Texas, particularly when the national centers have historically been on the East and West coasts,” said PVAMU Chancellor John Sharp. “This is what can be accomplished when we combine the research expertise of one of our universities with the resources of the A&M System, and this team will achieve a great result for the state of Texas and the nation.”

The National Center for Infrastructure Transformation will receive $4 million per year for five years and is one of only five awarded national-tier centers. The center is designed to address the infrastructure issues of both urban and rural areas across all transportation modes and is expected to improve durability and resilience across the country for years to come.

“I am delighted that this award has put Prairie View A&M University’s long-held transportation research expertise on the national stage,” said Dr. Judy Perkins, P.E., who will serve as center director. “Prairie View A&M University’s leadership, expertise, and spirit of innovation will, as the Center’s name suggests, work to transform our nation’s infrastructure over the next five years and beyond.”