RALEIGH, N.C. — Research programs at three public universities will each receive $1 million grants, the North Carolina Department of Transportation announced Tuesday. The programs will study future transportation challenges in the state and develop ways to improve safety and mobility.

• N.C. State, UNC, and N.C. A&T State each received a $1 million grant for transportation research projects
• The three universities will work with experts from other universities across the state
• Will study transportation challenges facing the state and ways to improve safety and mobility 

N.C. State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and N.C. A&T State University will receive the grants and spearhead the multi-university research initiatives over the next three years. The programs are expected to begin in early 2020.

The initiative, known as the University Transportation Centers of Excellence, will have the three lead universities working with transportation experts at other universities across the state. They include Appalachian State University, North Carolina Central University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Duke University, and Fayetteville State University.

“Disruptive technologies will reshape the transportation industry,” said state Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon. “This research will provide North Carolina with data we need to prepare for these changes.”

Transportation officials say much of the research will focus on new technology, including the growing use of electric, autonomous, and other fuel efficient vehicles. It's an area that needs focus, officials say, because this growing trend could mean the main source of transportation funding, which is the motor fuels tax, will not be sustainable in the future.

“North Carolina is uniquely positioned to perform research on transportation technology and enable the progress and improvement of transportation systems while improving on the mobility and safety of our citizens,” said David Howard, chief deputy secretary for the N.C. Department of Transportation. “This research should lead to North Carolina having competitive advantages in a global economy.”

According to a release from the NCDOT, each center will have a unique focus in the following areas:

• N.C. A&T will lead a study on connected and autonomous vehicle technology and the state’s preparedness for this technology. The NC-CAV Center will be headquartered at the university’s research campus in Greensboro and will have a dedicated test-track for autonomous vehicles. Greensboro and its transportation department are also contributing funding to the center. For more information, click here.
• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Highway Safety Research Center will focus on the impact of automated vehicles and advanced technology on safety, policy, mobility and accessibility. The UNC research team will also study how autonomous vehicles will impact North Carolina’s economy and other people using the road. For more information, click here.
• N.C. State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education will research traffic prediction, the role of autonomous vehicle fleet management, and improving convenient, reliable and safe transportation options to rural communities and underserved individuals. For more information, click here.