Center Overview

The Center for Intermodal Freight Transportation Studies (CIFTS) was designed as a Tier II University Transportation Center (UTC) in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA_LU) legislation signed by President Bush in August, 2005.

Nationwide, UTC’s work to conduct research in areas linked to the national strategy for surface transportation research as well as to advance education, training and outreach within their regions. Each UTC further identifies an umbrella theme or focus for its work that corresponds to the unique needs of the region it serves. The University of Memphis UTC, working in collaboration with Vanderbilt University, will focus its work on intermodal freight transportation.

Our vision is that the Center will be a nationally-recognized Center that will apply interdisciplinary resources from the academic community to investigate critical regional and national intermodal transportation issues for the public and private sectors.

The mission of CIFTS is to address critical issues affecting the planning, design and operation of the nation’s intermodal freight transportation system with an emphasis on the intermodal issues and opportunities that have special significance for Memphis, the State of Tennessee, the lower Mississippi Delta region, and the national and international corridors that cross and intersect in the southeastern U.S.. CIFTS will pursue work in five primary areas: 1) Information Technology (data mining/analysis and software systems development); 2) Network Evaluation (supply chain/network optimization and congestion); 3) Risk Management (safety, security, environmental), 4) Infrastructure Analyses (design and network); and 5) Impact Analyses. Within these areas, emphasis will be placed on projects that address issues related to international freight, natural and man-made hazards, and dangerous cargo. The Center is grounded in the belief that an all-encompassing approach that includes infrastructure, technology and policy considerations is necessary to effectively advance the transportation network that supports our nation’s economy.

The strategic plan for the Center was approved in March, 2007, by the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Tennessee Department of Transportation will be providing matching funds to support programs of importance to transportation and economic development in Tennessee.