University Transportation Centers Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 20.701
- Agency
-
Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Department of Transportation
- Grant awards
- 273 $1,462,506,042 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- UTC Program
- Assistance type
-
- Project Grant
- Treasury accounts
-
- 69-8083-0-7-401
- 69-0548-0-1-401
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Transportation Immediate Office of the Secretary is managing the University Transportation Centers Program (CFDA 20.701), which funds university consortia conducting transportation research, education, and workforce development, with the most recent grant awards issued in December 2023 and a now-paused FY 2025 solicitation that was posted December 22, 2025 with a target due date of February 13, 2026.
The program funds research and educational activities organized around specific transportation priorities. Recent awards show concrete focus areas: North Dakota State University leads a consortium addressing preservation of the transportation system; Johns Hopkins focuses on environmental preservation; New York University on congestion reduction; Carnegie Mellon and others on transportation safety; Illinois Institute of Technology on cybersecurity risk reduction; and multiple centers on infrastructure durability, mobility of people and goods, and workforce development. Deliverables across awards consistently include final research reports, conference presentations, and student scholarships or research assistantships distributed through participating universities. Award recipients operate multi-institution consortia spanning two- and four-year institutions, community colleges, and tribal colleges.
The program operates entirely as Project Grants. All 273 awards in the portfolio were funded by the Department of Transportation, which obligated $1.46 billion in federal dollars and $2.32 billion in total when combined with recipient cost-share contributions, indicating mandatory matching from non-federal sources. Recent annual award volume has been volatile: 32 awards in 2016, dropping to 2–4 awards in 2018–2020, then surging to 40 in 2023. The most recent awards (April–December 2023) range widely in magnitude from $1.5 million to $22.1 million per award, with typical Tier 1 continuation awards around $8.8 million to $17.7 million over three-year funding periods.
The FY 2025 NOFO (UTCOPENCOMP2025) was posted but is currently paused pending amendment to comply with new FY 2026 Appropriations language. When active, it will competitively award five University Transportation Centers (one Regional and four Tier 1) with three annual increments totaling $33 million operating 2026–2030. The program requires Letter of Intent submission and pre-application coordination; evaluation criteria include demonstrated institutional capacity, prior transportation research programs, and dissemination ability. Matching funds are mandatory and equal to the federal award for National and Regional centers, or 50 percent for Tier 1 centers. Eligible applicants are public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education (including community colleges) organized as consortia of at least two institutions. Award terms run five years with annual increments plus one unfunded extension year to complete projects.
Objective and description
- Objective
The program awards grants to nonprofit institutions of higher learning for the purpose of establishing and operating university transportation centers that conduct research, education, and technology transfer programs addressing regional and national
- Description
DOT invests in the future of transportation through its University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, which awards and administers grants to consortia of colleges and universities across the United States. The mission of the UTC Program is to advance innovative transportation research and technology, and develop the next generation of transportation professionals. Each UTC is a consortium of two- and four-year colleges and universities the come together to form a unique center of transportation excellence on a specific research topic.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
For the program's competitive grants, public and private nonprofit institutions of higher learning that have established transportation research programs including community colleges. Non-competitive grants must also be to public and private nonprofit institutions of higher learning but may or may not have established programs.
- Beneficiary eligibility
For the program's competitive grants, public and private nonprofit institutions of higher learning that have established transportation research programs. Non-competitive grants must also be to public and private nonprofit institutions of higher learning but may or may not have established programs.
- Uses of assistance
The University Transportation Centers will address surface transportation problems and issues and will seek solutions to both long-range and immediate transportation problems. See below for information about grant matching requirements.
- Use restrictions
Any restriction on the use of Federal funds applies equally to non-Federal matching funds.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Five years with annual increments, as designated in the authorizing legislation, plus one addition unfunded year to complete projects prior to award termination date.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
During an open solicitation, pre-application coordination is required. Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent and identify the research priority area and type of UTC for which they are applying for grant funding. Currently there is an open solicitation planned for one Regional, and four Tier 1 UTC grants for a three-year period.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
During an open solicitation, evaluation criteria includes; resources available to conduct work of center; leadership in transportation; established transportation programs in prior years; ability to disseminate results (full text found in authorizing legislation at 49 U.S.C.5505(b)(4)(B) as amended by Pub. L. 112-141, Sec. 52009 (effective Oct. 1, 2012)). Currently there is an open solicitation planned for one Regional, and four Tier 1 UTC grants for a three-year period.
- Award procedure
Proposals are evaluated by a panel of SMEs from within the Department and industry on the basis of demonstrated ability toward the current goals of the Department. The final selection is made by the Secretary.
- Renewals
Incremental annual funding is subject to the availability of authorized funds, and satisfactory completion of prior-year work and timely submission of reporting requirements.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Transportation Centers Program FY 2025 NOFO | Closed | ||
| Region 8 UTC Competition Re-open | Closed | ||
| UTC Program Competition 2022-2026 Grants | Closed | ||
| UTC program tier 1 competition 2020 | Closed | ||
| UTC Program Solicitation for Two National UTCs | Closed | ||
| UTC Program 2017 Grant Solicitation for Centers in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 | Closed | ||
| University Transportation Centers Open Competition 2013 | Closed |
Grant awards
| Award | Recipient | Federal obligations | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| University transportation centers | North Dakota State University | $8,874,637 | |
| University transportation centers | The University Of Texas RIO Grande Valley | $5,916,425 | |
| University transportation centers | University Of Texas At Arlington | $5,916,425 | |
| University transportation centers | University Of Tennessee | $5,916,425 | |
| University transportation centers | University Of New Orleans | $3,965,180 | |
| University transportation centers | University Of New Mexico | $5,916,425 | |
| University transportation centers | The Curators Of The University Of Missouri | $5,916,425 | |
| University transportation centers | University Of Maryland, College Park | $5,916,425 | |
| University transportation centers | University Of Illinois | $5,916,425 | |
| University transportation centers | University Of Houston System | $5,916,425 |
Latest 10 of 273 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of Alaska Fairbanks | $49,117,365 | 3% |
| 2 | Carnegie-Mellon University | $44,085,784 | 3% |
| 3 | North Dakota State University | $39,556,115 | 3% |
| 4 | University Of Washington | $38,946,282 | 3% |
| 5 | Marshall University | $38,097,000 | 3% |
| 6 | University Of California, Davis | $37,685,931 | 3% |
| 7 | Board Of Regents Of The University Of Nebraska | $37,478,043 | 3% |
| 8 | Portland State University | $32,160,832 | 2% |
| 9 | Rutgers, The State University | $30,901,000 | 2% |
| 10 | Regents Of The University Of Michigan | $28,846,453 | 2% |
10 of 122 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $7,804,204 |
| FY2025 | $64,185,242 |
| FY2024 | $89,468,084 |
| FY2023 | $86,999,885 |
| FY2022 | -$461,174 |
| FY2021 | $67,770,556 |
| FY2020 | $92,783,434 |
| FY2019 | $148,441,632 |
| FY2018 | $61,370,200 |
| FY2017 | $61,136,100 |
| FY2016 | $22,669,789 |
| FY2015 | $44,644,500 |
| FY2014 | $72,958,000 |
| FY2013 | $137,910,200 |
| FY2012 | $76,986,000 |
| FY2011 | $46,569,184 |
| FY2010 | $48,074,100 |
| FY2009 | $83,775,500 |
| FY2008 | $59,069,600 |
| FY2006 | $58,306,500 |
| FY2005 | $27,635,000 |
| FY2004 | $26,430,000 |
| FY2003 | $22,844,800 |
| FY2002 | $24,463,700 |
| FY2001 | $32,290,100 |
Show all 25
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 20.701?
Assistance Listing 20.701 is University Transportation Centers Program, a federal grant program run by Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation (Department of Transportation).
What is the CFDA number for University Transportation Centers Program?
Its CFDA number is 20.701: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 20.701 awarded?
273 grant awards under 20.701 have obligated $1,462,506,042 in federal funds to 122 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 20.701?
The recipients obligated the most under University Transportation Centers Program are University Of Alaska Fairbanks ($49,117,365), Carnegie-Mellon University ($44,085,784) and North Dakota State University ($39,556,115).
How much did 20.701 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 20.701 obligated $64,185,242 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 20.701?
No opportunity listed under 20.701 is open now. The latest, University Transportation Centers Program FY 2025 NOFO, was posted on December 22, 2025.
On GovTribe
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