Over a five-year period, the United States Department of Transportation will annually award Florida Atlantic $1.4 million to conduct research to improve the state’s transportation infrastructure.

The award will total more than $10 million thanks to matches from state and private sectors, as well as help to establish the FAU Freight Mobility Research Institute. Once completed, the institute will conduct research to help improve connectivity between roadways and highways across the nation.

According to an FAU news release on the award, “Funds from this award will help to address critical issues affecting the planning, design, operation, and safety of the nation’s intermodal freight transportation system.”

Out of more than 200 proposals, only 20 institutions were chosen to receive funding.

“FAU will lead a consortium of experts from leading universities across the nation who have expertise in freight transportation, network modeling, sustainability, and intelligent transportation systems,” according to the press release.

University President John Kelly said he is grateful for the hard work of state Reps. Lois Frankel and Ted Deutch for making transportation sustainability a major part of their work, which helped to secure the award.

“Florida Atlantic University is at the forefront of pioneering transportation research and we are honored that our Freight Mobility Research Institute was selected by the United States Department of Transportation as a university transportation center,” said Kelly.

Benjamin Paley is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @benpaley92.