In 2006, 2011, and 2016, the Mid-America Transportation Center (MATC) won the U. S. Department of Transportation’s competition for the Region VII University Transportation Center—the region that includes Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. The consortium partners consist of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Nebraska Medical Center, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Kansas Medical Center, Lincoln University, Nebraska Indian Community College, and Missouri University of Science and Technology.
UNL serves as the lead institution of the consortium, where MATC headquarters are located.
Theme
The theme of MATC is improving safety and minimizing risk associated with increasing multi-modal freight movements on the U.S. surface transportation system.
The states that comprise Region VII have many commonalities, and the respective transportation agencies face similar issues in providing a safe, efficient, and effective transportation system. The majority of the region's roadway networks are primarily rural, although there are a number of major cities interspersed throughout the area that face traditional urban transportation problems. The four states experience a considerable amount of freight traffic on the region's roadways, railways, and waterways - all of which are located at the crossroads of the nation's transportation system. In Region VII, interstates I-70 and I-80 are vital east-west corridors and interstates I-35 and I-29 are major north-south corridors. Given the region's diverse economy and growing trade, freight traffic is increasing every year and having a profound effect on infrastructure and the safety of the traveling public.
MATC will work with leading faculty members from multiple academic departments of the consortium universities, state transportation agencies, members of the commercial freight industry, and other partner organizations to successfully meet the research, education, and technology transfer objectives associated with the center’s theme.
