This agreement funds the university of illinois urbana-champaign (recipient or uiuc) to develop and implement the national university rail center of excellence (nurail COE also referred to as the…

The Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a $11,580,640 Cooperative Agreement on May 3, 2024 to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) to establish the National University Rail Center of Excellence (NURAIL COE). The NURAIL COE will conduct basic and applied research, evaluation, education, workforce development, and technology transfer to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail transportation. Outcomes will include research results as well as activities in areas such as safety, project delivery, efficiency, reliability, resiliency, and sustainability of rail transportation. The NURAIL COE will collaborate with sub-awardees including Kansas State University, Tuskegee University, University of Texas at Austin, Michigan Technological University, Morgan State University, and Rutgers University on this project funded under the FRA's Railroad Research and Development (CFDA 20.313) program.

This agreement funds the university of illinois urbana-champaign (recipient or uiuc) to develop and implement the national university rail center of excellence (nurail COE also referred to as the center) to advance research and development that improves the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail transportation as well as US DOT strategic goals through funding basic and applied research on topics identified in 49 U.S.C. 20108(j)(4). The objective of the center is to advance research and development that improves the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail transportation by funding basic and applied research, evaluation, education, workforce development, training, and technology transfer efforts related to safety, project delivery, efficiency, reliability, resiliency, and sustainability of urban commuter, intercity high-speed, and freight rail transportation. Outcomes from the center will include results from the research conducted as well as education, workforce development, and technology transfer activities.