ICT, IDOT extend agreement for joint research program

Illinois Department of Transportation has extended a six-year, $40 million agreement with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Illinois Center for Transportation for their joint research program.

The one-year extension will expand their current contract to June 2023. During this period, ICT and IDOT will explore the latest transportation challenges in Illinois and beyond.

Those challenges include enhancing the design and preservation of roads and bridges, preparing for electric and self-driving vehicles, building a more equitable transportation system, and increasing travelers’ safety, among others.

“Over the last 17 years, IDOT and ICT have established and maintained a sound, comprehensive research program, which has provided many major contributions to the transportation community,” said LaDonna Rowden, IDOT’s bureau chief of research.

“Our collaboration provides a unique opportunity to conduct large research projects which can provide significant improvements in all facets of highway and intermodal systems,” she added.

Through the program, the two entities have brought together industry and academic professionals along with government agencies to improve the safety, reliability, efficiency and sustainability of transportation.

Altogether, they’ve completed over 260 joint projects, with 54 scheduled to be in progress by this fall.

Imad Al-Qadi, ICT director and UIUC Grainger Distinguished Chair in Engineering, is grateful for the innovative opportunities that ICT and IDOT’s “strong partnership” creates.

“The IDOT and ICT teams have been adapting to changes in transportation and rapid advancements in mobility by addressing new challenges and technologies,” Al-Qadi said.

“These technologies include drone delivery, the electrification of vehicles, nondestructive monitoring of transportation infrastructure and smart work zones, among others,” he added.

IDOT, the sixth largest transportation research program in the U.S., aims to use the program’s funding to find implementable solutions to challenges the agency and nation are facing.

“IDOT is fortunate to receive significant federal funding for research purposes,” Rowden said. “This funding and additional state funding provides an opportunity to continually improve the processes used to construct and maintain the transportation network.”