The University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University have received a $5.65 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant for a joint research center to conduct transportation technology research and development.

The two-year grant will allow the Penn CMU partnership, Technologies for Safe and Efficient Transportation, or T-SET, to continue to develop and implement new technologies.

"It's great to be recognized as a national DOT transportation center, said Dan Lee, co-director of T-SET and professor of electrical and systems engineering in Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. “Our faculty and students are excited to be working on research related to improving the safety and efficiency of our transportation systems."

This is the third time T-SET has received the federal University Transportation Center Award.

The partnership between the universities advances transportation safety, improves the quality and efficiency of roadways and saves travel time.  Researchers will find ways to improve safety, upgrade infrastructure and ensure that the best new technologies come from American companies.

Penn and CMU also have engaged more than 40 public, private and non-profit partners who are critical in deploying the federally funded research technologies through pilot projects and commercialization.  In addition, this consortium contributes to the development of “real world” education and workforce training programs at Penn and CMU to prepare students and workers for tomorrow’s transportation infrastructure and policy challenges.