The MATS UTC will serve as the focal point in Region 3 to accelerate adoption of sustainable practices in the provision of transportation services. Agencies and firms in the region recognize that the standard environmental practice in transportation has focused on “compliance” with regulations, as opposed to a focus on sustainability. Given the significant changes that have resulted from the focus
on sustainability in other industries (for example, the rise of LEED certification in building construction), it is critical that transportation agencies transition from minimal compliance to sustainability. The MATS UTC will serve the region through applied research, education, workforce development, and technology transfer focused on environmental sustainability, an area that is not mature in existing regional transportation research and education resources. The University of Virginia (UVA), located in Charlottesville, Virginia, is the lead university of the Mid-Atlantic Transportation Sustainability University Transportation Center (MATS UTC). The other members of the MATS UTC are: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT), University of Delaware (UD), Morgan State University (MSU), Marshall University (MU), and Old Dominion University (ODU). All of the members of MATS UTC have a history of working collaboratively, in particular on federally sponsored UTCs. In fact, many of the members are long-time partners. As the lead institution, UVA has led multi-university partnerships both from a research and educational perspective. In addition, UVA’s continual membership in a UTC since the late 1980s has provided the direct experience in the program needed to assume a leadership role.
