IDOT secretary visits ATREL to discuss pavement sustainability

Several elected officials and government and university leaders recently toured ATREL to learn more about ICT’s research to create more sustainable pavements for Illinois. Attendees included IDOT Secretary of Transportation Ann Schneider, Chief Operating Officer Marsha Campos, IDOT Acting Director of Highways Bill Frey, State Senators Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) and David Koehler (D-Peoria), and State Representatives Chad Hays (R-Danville) and Naomi Jakobssen (D-Urbana). Representing the University of Illinois was Larry Schook, Vice President for Research, and representing the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign were Richard Wheeler, Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Debashish Dutta, Dean of the Graduate College and Interim Vice Chancellor for Research, and Amr Elnashai, CEE Head.

“Sustainability is one of ICT’s foremost priorities,” said ICT Director Imad Al-Qadi. “We are taking national leadership in saving energy, reducing emissions, and reducing reliance on natural resources. Our research is improving pavement service life while reducing costs and creating jobs.”

ICT leads the technical research portion of IDOT’s research program. “We are leveraging two of the State’s shining assets and that is the University of Illinois and our transportation system. I think it’s because we are leveraging those two assets that we are going to make Illinois a better place.” said Ann Schneider, IDOT Secretary of Transportation.

Illinois State Senator Martin A. Sandoval, chair of the Senate Transportation Committee stated, “”State government would benefit from an enhanced partnership with ATREL. Technology transfer and human capital development would put IDOT in a greater position to meet the challenges of the state of Illinois.”