IDAHO NATIONAL
Idaho
Transportation |
Matt Moore, the Idaho Transportation Department's new research manager, recently met with researchers and staff of the National Institute for Advanced Transportation to discuss future research collaboration. "Matt brings new vision to our 17-year-old research program, showing how our work can impact ITD’s long-term objectives," said Michael Kyte, NIATT director at the University of Idaho. The UI, through NIATT, and ITD have worked together since 1998 to solve some of the state’s transportation problems. Greater opportunities for collaboration will be identified as ITD implements the visioning process initiated by ITD Director Dave Ekern. In addition, funding sources for research could increase as a result of the renewal of a surface transportation bill being considered by the U.S. Congress. Moore was selected last December to be ITD’s new research program manager. He faces the challenge of opening the “storehouse of research and make information widely available to his ITD colleagues for improving Idaho’s transportation system,” according to ITD. The research manager position was created following a study of ITD's research needs by Kyte. “Research,” emphasized Moore, “is not an end, but a means” to manage the myriad issues involved in transportation. Approaches to highway and roadside maintenance, safety and traffic concerns, compatibility with the environment, and sustainability must be both practical and innovative, and be available for use throughout the state. Some recent projects completed by NIATT researchers to meet ITD needs include:
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