CTIS | March 26, 2025
Empowering Future Engineers: UTEP and EPCC’s Collaborative Research in Transportation Infrastructure
Advancing Transportation research together
EPCC students, Angel Salinas (left) and Paul Alvidrez (right), preparing sample asphalt mixes for laboratory testing at CTIS asphalt lab.The Center for Transportation Infrastructure Systems (CTIS) at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is proud to continue its collaboration with El Paso Community College (EPCC), fostering research advancements to meet the growing demand for engineers in transportation-related fields. This partnership reflects CTIS’s commitment to developing the next generation of engineers through hands-on experience and high-level collaboration in research and education. The collaboration includes the TRIP (Transportation Research Immersive Program) five-day transportation research symposium to expose EPCC and early college high school students to the various aspects of transportation which includes planning, materials, construction, and the future of transportation with electric vehicles.
Currently, eight EPCC students are actively engaged in this collaborative effort: Armando Gutierrez, Jesus Rosales, Elein Rodela, Tatiana Tellez Rodriquez, Luis Chavarria, Angel Salinas, Paul Alvidrez, and Elyan Flores. These students are participating as part of the Southern Plains Transportation Center, a U.S. Department of Transportation Region 6 Regional University Transportation Center (UTC), a national initiative designed to promote safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable transportation systems. EPCC students participating in this program gain practical research experience, engineering skills and knowledge in transportation engineering by working alongside UTEP faculty and students. This initiative is a multi-state consortium involving institutions from Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Through this collaborative network, students, faculty, and transportation experts from across the country unite to address pressing transportation challenges and innovate in infrastructure development.
CTIS Lab PicturesAs part of the UTC program, these EPCC students are working alongside UTEP researchers and faculty, gaining invaluable insights into the complexities of transportation engineering. This initiative is a multi-state consortium involving institutions from Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Through this collaborative network, students, faculty, and transportation experts from across the country unite to address pressing transportation challenges and innovate in infrastructure development.
The UTC program brings together two- and four-year institutions to create centers of excellence in specialized transportation research topics. EPCC students participating in the program have expressed their enthusiasm for the opportunities provided. They highlight the chance to engage with some of the most skilled and experienced civil engineers in their fields, as well as the benefits of collaborating with UTEP students. This exchange of ideas broadens their perspectives on research methodologies, problem-solving approaches, and practical applications in civil engineering transportation.
The partnership continues to foster academic and professional growth for students while contributing to advancements in transportation research. Through this collaboration, both institutions remain dedicated to equipping future engineers with the skills and knowledge needed to address the evolving challenges of transportation infrastructure.