The Wisconsin DOT is leading a pooled fund to support the National Center for Freight & Infrastructure Research & Education (CFIRE) led by the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Participation in this pooled fund presents an opportunity for state DOTs to support a federally designated University Transportation Center by helping scope projects to more readily meet DOT needs and ultimately allow for quickly implemented results in state practice. In 2005 CFIRE was selected as a National University Transportation Center (UTC). This allowed the center to use research, education and outreach efforts to advance technology, knowledge and expertise in the planning, design, construction and operation of sustainable freight transportation and infrastructure systems. Recently, RITA announced CFIRE, through a competitive process has been awarded, a Tier 1 UTC. The new CFIRE consortium represents the merger of UTCs with the addition of several new partners to continue this work; University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Superior, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, University of Toledo, University of Illinois-Chicago, Michigan Technological University, University of Memphis, Vanderbilt University, University of Alabama-Huntsville, University of Southern Mississippi. The new CFIRE will combine the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as the lead institution and host of a northern hub, with the University of Memphis hosting a southern hub. The new CFIRE consortium will offer a wide range of expertise in truck, rail, waterway, air, and multimodal freight planning, management, and operations with a deep history of conducting successful, actionable research, education, outreach, and technology transfer in support of the freight community. The partner institutions have collaborative relationships with state departments of transportation, metropolitan planning organizations, and local municipalities, as well as with shippers and carriers across all modes. The proposed new, expanded CFIRE consortium—unparalleled in breadth and scope—is uniquely situated to broaden and deepen its ability to help resuscitate and grow the US economy while upholding and improving the quality of life for the entire country.

CFIRE will capitalize on its resources to conduct advanced and applied research that impacts the multimodal movement of freight. Making freight transportation systems work for economic competitiveness should not happen at the expense of livability. The center has distilled its ideas for projects into a theme: Making Multimodal Freight Systems Work for Economic Recovery and Quality of Life. CFIRE’s multidisciplinary and multi-scale approach recognizes interacting economic, social, and technical factors, and environmental and regulatory constraints, which influence the function of freight transportation and allied systems. In summary, CFIRE’s significant contributions have two outcomes: Desired outcomes impacting Applied Measurement: 1. A better routing tool for hazardous materials shipments. 2. Guidance for using advanced technologies to improve livability of freight-centric communities. 3. Methods for using non-destructive technologies for safety, maintenance, and cost allocation. 4. A new methodology for processing vessel data in real-time. 5. Identification of transportation infrastructure most at risk in a climate-change scenario. Desired outcomes influencing Institutional and Organizational Design: 6. Strategies for realigning multimodal freight networks in response to international capacity expansion. 7. Strategies for revitalizing rural economies with shortline rail access. 8. Identification of transportation barriers and opportunities for delivery of local food. 9. Creation of a market for beneficial reuse of waterway dredging materials.

The CFIRE team will take advantage of regional expertise developed over years of prior activities by establishing both northern and southern hubs to help coordinate proposed education, training, and technology transfer efforts. While research is expected to be done collaboratively across both regions, dissemination will be managed by the hub institutions. The northern hub will be managed by the UW-Madison, and include partners at UW-Superior, UW Milwaukee, University of Illinois, Chicago, Michigan Technological University, and the University of Toledo. These institutions are located in states that share the Great Lakes system and have extensive knowledge and contacts in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The northern hub institutions also have experience with Chicago as a major distribution center. The southern hub will be led by the University of Memphis and include Vanderbilt University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Alabama, Huntsville. These institutions have extensive knowledge of the inland waterway system, manufacturing processes, intermodal freight activity, and gulf and ocean ports. It is expected that all project activities will involve multiple institutions and disciplines. No single project activity supported by grant funds will be limited to a single consortium partner. Planned projects include: • A Multi-Modal Freight Safety, Security, and Environmental Routing Tool • Making Freight-Centric Communities More Livable: Measuring the Impact of Advanced • Technologies • Non-Destructive Technologies for Monitoring and Condition Assessment to Support Safety, • Maintenance Programming, and Cost Allocation • Mining Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) Data for Improved Vessel Trip Analysis Capabilities • Estimating the Effects of Climate Change on Transportation Infrastructure • Institutional and Organizational Design • Realigning Multimodal Freight Networks in Response to International Capacity Expansion • Enhancing Rail Connectivity to Underserved Rural Communities • Enhancing Access to Local and Regional Food • Beneficial Reuse of Dredging Materials from Harbors and Channels Total authorized grant for research, education and outreach, based on stipulations set up in the grant competition is $3.5 in federal funds to be matched 100% by CFIRE. Committed pooled fund partners include Wisconsin DOT and Tennessee DOT. Each DOT partner has committed $300,000 for a two year period. There is a $50K minimum to participate and receive voting power on the Research Advisory Committee. Staff of WisDOT will provide management of the pooled fund program while the University of Wisconsin-Madison will provide direction and management of the CFIRE program. An evaluation of the pooled fund at the end of the grant life as well as new grant award stipulations will determine the need for a second generation pooled fund. Future obligations will occur as needed to fund further activities set forth by the Executive Management Committee. FHWA will be asked to review and approve all projects as set forth in the committee structure.

Organizational Structure Committees CFIRE will be directed by Dr. Teresa Adams at the UW-Madison. Advice and guidance will be provided to Dr. Adams through an Executive Management Committee of representatives of the CFIRE partner institutions and a Research Advisory Committee that includes the Executive Management Committee and representatives of sponsoring organizations and other significant stakeholders. Executive Management Committee This committee will provide overall guidance and strategic decision making for CFIRE. The committee will include one representative of each consortium partner. Two votes will be assigned to the University of Memphis and three votes assigned to the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Dr. Teresa Adams, as Center Director, will call and chair meetings of the Executive Management Committee. The Executive Management Committee will clearly delineate roles and responsibilities for each consortium partner. At a minimum, partners will collaborate on research opportunities, participate in technology transfer initiatives, support student activities, and engage freight stakeholders in Center efforts as outlined in this proposal. Research Advisory Committee This committee will provide recommendations to the Center Director on specific research awards. It will consider research budget allocations, provide peer review for proposals, and prioritize research projects and emerging needs. Given the nature of the committee, it will provide valuable insight on channels for research dissemination and strategies for implementation. In addition, the committee will provide external input to the Center’s general direction and identify key areas for future growth and research. The committee will meet annually to select projects. It is expected that committee members will attend in person, although teleconferences may be organized to keep administrative costs low. This committee will include a member from each consortium partner and also include