Strategic Alliance for Advancement of Transportation

Mission

Advancing transportation through the development of intellectual capital & creation of new knowledge.

Mobility is the Key

As we enter the 21st century, transportation becomes increasingly important to the future of our country's continued success. In fact, we believe that in today's mobile society, transportation will be even more important than it ever has been in the past.

We realize that's a bold statement. Our country was founded on movement - the immigration of people from all countries and cultures, the push to new geographical frontiers, and the development of a nation whose people, goods and services are always on the move.

Transportation's future importance is supported by fundamental changes taking place in our global society.

• The increasing complexity and technological sophistication of transportation systems, driven by a world in which knowledge doubles every three years;
• The role of transportation in a global economy which increasingly requires efficient and almost instantaneous mobility of people, goods and services;
• The expanding opportunity and need for networking with people and places spread throughout the world; and
• The accelerating demand for personal transportation resulting from continued national and worldwide economic growth.

These developments are taking place as the emphasis in the transportation field shifts from building the infrastructure to management, replacement, maintenance, operations, intermodalism, and environmental concerns.

The changes in transportation, increasing importance of mobility, and corresponding demand for transportation will require increased numbers of transportation professionals with different knowledge requirements. It will also require the innovative adaptation of the latest technology and invention of new techniques and methods. The underpinning reason for the Alliance is to meet these challenges.

A "Capital" Investment

Seven national organizations - American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, American Public Transit Association, American Road and Transportation Builders Association, Council of University Transportation Centers, Eno Foundation, Transportation Research Board, and U.S. Department of Transportation - have combined their resources to work toward a unified goal:

The development of intellectual capital and creation of new knowledge in the field of transportation.

We envision the creation of a new breed of transportation professional, individuals who use new knowledge to keep pace with technological development and changing needs in the U.S. and global economy.

We also conceive an interdisciplinary and multi-modal research effort that addresses the knowledge and technology needs of transportation. Further, research programs need to be integrated with the development of intellectual capital.

Forthcoming reports, position papers and proposals will specifically identify education and research needs that will help the U.S. continue to increase mobility into the next century. Through appropriately funded education, research, and service programs, our country's transportation system will continue to help us remain competitive and meet the growing economic and social transportation needs of the United States.

Contacts

If you share an interest in advancing transportation through the development of intellectual capital and the creation of new knowledge, please let us know.

American Assn. of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
John Horsley · 202.624.5810
Director
jhorsley@aashto.org

American Public Transportation Association (APTA)
Tony Kouneski · 202.898.4030
Vice President
akouneski@apta.com

American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA)
Bill Buechner · 202.289.4434
Vice President
wbuechner@artba.org

Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC)
Gene Griffin · 701.231.8343
Past President
ggriffin@plains.nodak.edu

Eno Transportation Foundation (Eno)
Damian Kulash · 202.879.4711
President & CEO
dkulash@enotrans.com

Transportation Research Board (TRB)
Bob Skinner · 202.334.2936
Executive Director
bskinner@nas.edu

U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT)
Stephen Van Beek · 202.366.5781
Associate Deputy Secretary
stephen.vanbeek@ost.dot.gov