Western Transportation Institute: rural transportation research
The Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University is the country's largest university-based research center focused on rural transportation issues.
Overview
The Western Transportation Institute (WTI), based at Montana State University in Bozeman, is the country's largest university-based research center focused on rural transportation issues. WTI advances the field of rural transportation by conducting state, regional, and national research and outreach to save lives and make people's lives better.
Research focus areas
- Safety & Operations
- Cold Climate Operations and Systems
- Road Ecology
- Infrastructure Longevity and Sustainability
- Mobility & Public Transportation
- Systems Engineering Development & Integration
- Workforce Development
Membership & engagement
WTI hosts a range of programs and centers, including the Montana Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), the National Center of Excellence for Rural Road Safety, the Public Lands Transportation Fellows Program, the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, and the Western States Rural Transportation Technology Implementers Forum.
About Montana State University
Montana State University's substantial research enterprise growth has been accompanied by focused investments in innovation and research translation, creating new opportunities for companies to engage with MSU research and expertise. A particular strength is MSU’s network of specialized centers, institutes, and industry-accessible core facilities, which bring together multidisciplinary expertise, advanced research infrastructure, testing capabilities, and established pathways for working with industry partners. MSU is one of a select group of universities participating in the NSF's Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, which is building the capacity and infrastructure needed to translate more research discoveries into solutions with real-world impact. The growing MSU Innovation Campus and expanding incubator infrastructure provide additional opportunities for university-industry interaction, startup development, and technology-focused companies. These efforts are complemented by MSU’s Technology Transfer Office, which works with researchers and companies to protect and license MSU inventions and facilitate industry-sponsored research collaborations.
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