NJDOT Announces Research Grant Recipients
Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein today announced the Department of Transportation, which has a long standing commitment to support transportation research in the state, has reached out to the academic community in a unique way and will be supporting six innovative projects.
"We have research agreements with every major university in the state and have been benefitting from their expertise for many years," said Transportation Commissioner James Weinstein. "Traditionally, the NJDOT solicited the academic community when it had a particular need or problem to solve. This time around we also asked them for their ideas on what areas of transportation would make suitable research topics."
The proposals were submitted by Rutgers University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology & Princeton University, Rowan University’s College of Engineering, The College of New Jersey and the University Transportation Research Center at the City University of New York.
The specific proposals to be funded, either through direct grants or in-kind services include:
the development of a program to promote walking and pedestrian safety in the state (Rutgers University Transportation Policy Institute)
the creation of a program to assist local governments in meeting the demand for developing bicycle policies and planning assistance. This project is being proposed in conjunction with Governor Whitman’s pledge to create 2,000 miles of bike lanes and paths over the next 10 years. (Rutgers University Transportation Policy Institute)
the development of new technologies that allow vehicle operators -- cars, buses and trucks -- to quickly determine the distances between their vehicle and another whether it be on the road, in a parking lot or at a loading zone. (NJIT & Princeton University)
the development of an Automated Crash Notification System which will let emergency medical personnel know when a crash has occurred so that response time can be shortened. (Rowan University College of Engineering)
assisting in the expansion of an existing bicycle patrol program and development of an electric car fleet for campus police. (The College of New Jersey)
a study to determine the optimal balance between future rail and highway investments in both passenger and freight transportation. (University Transportation Research Center)
"This research is being supported in part as a result of the department’s continuing research program, but also as a result of a challenge Governor Whitman made last year to the academic community to develop or inspire breakthroughs in transportation technology," Weinstein said.
The research arm of the NJDOT has traditionally employed universities to help solve technical needs, such as tapping expertise at Cornell University to help develop the New Jersey Safety Barrier, or "Jersey barrier", the concrete dividers used on highways and bridges around the world.
Since 1981, the NJDOT has had an agreement with 50 colleges and universities in the state to work cooperatively on research and planning projects. The department used these innovative partnerships during the 1980s with Rutgers University for research on permanent bridge deck repair methods.
| 
