2026 CUTC Summer Meeting

Early Registration: $575.00 (valid through May 22) 

Late Registration: $725.00 

Register Now

Participants are responsible for making their own lodging arrangements. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at the Graduate by Hilton in Auburn. Reservations can be made at at these locations through May 17, 2026, or until the CUTC hotel block is full. 

Make Your Hotel Reservation 

Monday, June 15, 2026

3:00 pm   NCAT Test Track / Autonomous Vehicle Facility Tour

Transportation will be provided from The Graduate Hotel. Shuttle vans will load at 2:15 pm and depart at 2:30 pm for the NCAT Test Track. This technical tour will provide participants with a firsthand look at AUTRI’s National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track and the GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory (GAVLAB) Testing Facility The NCAT Test Track is a one-of-a-kind facility for full-scale, accelerated pavement testing. Its 1.7 mile oval serves as a national proving ground where highway agencies and industry partners evaluate asphalt pavement performance under real-world conditions. During the tour, participants will learn how experimental pavement sections are designed, constructed, and monitored, and how accelerated loading simulates years of traffic in a short period of time. The visit will highlight how this unique facility supports collaboration among universities, public agencies, and industry, while generating data that informs pavement design, specifications, and investment decisions. By bridging controlled research and real-world application, the NCAT Test Track plays a critical role in advancing durable, cost effective, and high performing transportation infrastructure. The GAVLAB testing facility is a premier autonomous vehicle (AV) research center located at the NCAT Test Track. It includes a dedicated garage for vehicle preparation and an observation area, enabling researchers to test, develop, and analyze autonomous systems—including passenger cars, heavy trucks, and ATVs—on the 1.7 mile oval track. Research focuses on sensor fusion, vehicle dynamics, and autonomous vehicle control. The lab works with a range of automated platforms, including two Peterbilt tractors for platooning tests, a by wire Lincoln MKZ, and an autonomous ATV. Research funding has been provided by the Department of Defense, the Federal Highway Administration, and private industry partners. The visit will highlight current work in Assurance PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) in difficult or compromised environments; vehicle dynamics and control testing for autonomous steering and braking on commercial and passenger vehicles; truck platooning to improve fuel efficiency and safety for heavy vehicles; and high speed testing, including efforts by the AU Indy Autonomous Challenge team on high speed, multi vehicle detection.

6:00 pm   Welcome Reception | War Eagle Supper Club at the Graduate

Kick off the CUTC Summer Meeting at the War Eagle Supper Club, for a welcome reception held on the rooftop of Graduate Auburn. Overlooking downtown and Auburn University’s campus, this relaxed yet spirited spot offers the perfect setting to connect with fellow attendees while enjoying light bites, refreshments, and signature Auburn hospitality. With sweeping views and a lively atmosphere, it’s an unforgettable way to begin your conference experience—War Eagle style. The War Eagle Supper Club is located on the fifth floor of the Graduate hotel. 

8:00 pm   Optional Partner Meetings (RETRC) | Magnolia 2

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

7:00 am   Registration Open | Magnolia Prefunction Space 

7:00 am   Breakfast / Roundtables - Behind the Scenes of Impact: Tools and Strategies for Center Operations (Part 1) | Magnolia 2

Strong administrative and operational practices are essential to delivering high-impact research. This interactive breakfast roundtable session will feature rotating discussions across two days, providing participants with opportunities to engage in focused conversations on key aspects of managing university transportation research centers. Each day will include a selection of roundtable topics, with discussions covering areas such as the use of AI tools to support center activities, communications and digital accessibility, reporting requirements for USDOT-funded centers, and strategies for student recruitment and outreach. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, exchange practical tools, and discuss challenges and emerging practices with peers. Designed as a collaborative forum, this session will highlight approaches that enhance efficiency, support compliance, strengthen visibility, and contribute to workforce development.

7:30 am   Optional Partner Meetings (ARTBA RED) | Steele Room

8:30 am   Welcome and Opening Remarks - Setting the State for Innovation and Impact | Magnolia 1 

The opening session will bring together leaders from Auburn University and Alabama transportation agencies to spotlight the exciting research and innovation shaping mobility in the U.S. Southeast. They will share brief insights into emerging initiatives and collaborative efforts driving the transportation field forward. The session will also introduce the CUTC Summer Meeting, highlighting its key objectives and the opportunities ahead for engagement and discovery.

9:00 am   USDOT Session: R&D Planning, Challenges, and Opportunities | Magnolia 1 

This session will define a new meeting structure designed to complement business goals with deep technical synthesis. Participants will identify high-priority R&D challenges and opportunities to bridge cross-center research gaps. The session serves as a pilot to refine a roadmap for future actionable collaborations, ensuring UTC outcomes directly inform and align with USDOT strategic research directions. The session will conclude with an open forum for additional USDOT programmatic updates and attendee inquiries.

10:30 am   Break / Networking | Magnolia 2 and Prefunction Space 

11:00 am   Working with State DOTs: Strategies for Effective Collaboration and Implementation of Research | Magnolia 1

This panel, featuring representatives from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials Research Advisory Committee (AASHTO RAC) and CUTC member institutions, will explore effective strategies for how university-based transportation programs can partner with state DOTs. Panelists will share insights into state DOT priorities, decision-making processes, and opportunities for collaboration. Topics will cover a number of research-funding mechanisms including discussions of State Planning and Research (SP&R) research projects and partnering on federal opportunities including the FHWA Safe Streets for All (SS4A) and the USDOT UTC program. The discussion will highlight successful, practical approaches for building relationships, aligning research with agency needs, and advancing projects from concept to implementation. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate partnerships with state DOTs to support innovation, inform practice, and deliver real-world impact.

12:00 pm   Lunch Keynote - Local Technical Assistance Programs and Rural Development: Lessons Learned | Magnolia 2 

This keynote will explore strategies for using training, technology transfer, and technical assistance programs, including the well‑known FHWA Local Technical Assistance Program, to strengthen economic development in rural communities. The speaker will outline practical approaches to outreach, stakeholder engagement, and project transparency that contribute to successful transportation‑related safety and infrastructure initiatives. Examples from communities across Alabama’s rural agricultural regions, particularly those in distressed rural corridors, will be featured. A particular emphasis will be placed on how these efforts can align with and support broader state and national rural economic development goals.

1:30 pm   CUTC Business Meeting - Elections, Organizational Updates, and Strategic Communications Discussions | Magnolia 1 

This session will convene participants for CUTC’s official business meeting, including organizational updates and elections. Participants will also engage in a focused discussion on strategies to strengthen the visibility and impact of university transportation research centers. The conversation will explore opportunities to enhance marketing, communications, and outreach efforts to better showcase research accomplishments, partnerships, workforce development activities, and contributions to practice.

3:00 pm   Break | Magnolia 2 and Prefunction Space 

3:15 pm   UTC Administrative Session (USDOT & UTCs) | Magnolia 2

Operating a University Transportation Center (UTC) involves far more than conducting research; it also includes educating and preparing the next generation of transportation leaders, advancing technology transfer, and supporting workforce development opportunities. At the same time, UTCs must navigate federal reporting requirements that, while necessary, can often be time-consuming and complex. This session will provide an opportunity to engage with USDOT representatives and fellow UTCs to discuss experiences across all aspects of the UTC program, including reporting expectations, effective internal processes for facilitating compliance, and strategies to better support both UTCs and USDOT as we continually strive to strengthen and improve our work.

3:15 pm   The Funding Equation - Building Balance in Your UTC | Magnolia 1 

This panel discussion will explore practical strategies for strengthening the financial sustainability of university transportation centers. Panelists will share experiences and lessons learned in diversifying funding sources, building institutional support, leveraging partnerships, and aligning research portfolios with emerging opportunities across federal, state, local, industry, and philanthropic sectors. The conversation will highlight actionable approaches to developing resilient funding models that support long-term research impact, workforce development, technology transfer, and stakeholder engagement. Participants will gain insights into successful practices, common challenges, and innovative strategies for ensuring continued growth and influence in a dynamic funding environment. 

5:00 pm   Depart to Jordan-Hare Stadium

5:30 pm   From Field to Flight: An Auburn Evening at Jordan-Hare Stadium

Experience the spirit of Auburn with an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Jordan-Hare Stadium, followed by a special presentation of the Flight of the Eagle from Auburn University’s Raptor Center. This immersive event captures the energy and pageantry of an Auburn gameday, offering a unique glimpse into one of college football’s most iconic traditions. The experience concludes with a photo opportunity to commemorate the evening. Following the tour, attendees will enjoy dinner at the stadium at the Tiger Walk Club—an opportunity to continue conversations and connect with colleagues in a memorable and distinctly local setting.

6:30 pm   CUTC Summer Meeting Banquet | Jordan Hare Stadium: Tiger Walk Club

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

7:00 am   Registration Open | Magnolia Prefunction Space 

7:00 am   Breakfast / Roundtables - Behind the Scenes of Impact: Tools and Strategies for Center Operations (Part 2) | Magnolia 2 

Strong administrative and operational practices are essential to delivering high-impact research. This interactive breakfast roundtable session will feature rotating discussions across two days, providing participants with opportunities to engage in focused conversations on key aspects of managing university transportation research centers. Each day will include a selection of roundtable topics, with discussions covering areas such as the use of AI tools to support center activities, communications and digital accessibility, reporting requirements for USDOT-funded centers, and strategies for student recruitment and outreach. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, exchange practical tools, and discuss challenges and emerging practices with peers. Designed as a collaborative forum, this session will highlight approaches that enhance efficiency, support compliance, strengthen visibility, and contribute to workforce development.

7:30 am   CUTC Board Meeting (invitation only) | Steele Room

8:30 am   Workforce Development in Action: Center Strategies and Best Practices for Implementation | Magnolia 1 

This panel will highlight practical approaches for embedding workforce development into the mission and activities of university transportation centers. Panelists will share examples of successful programs, partnerships, and strategies that connect research, education, and industry engagement to prepare the next generation of transportation professionals. The discussion will explore best practices for aligning workforce initiatives with center strengths, leveraging collaborations with public agencies and industry partners, and measuring impact. Participants will gain insights into models that effectively integrate students, faculty, and external stakeholders to strengthen talent pipelines and expand the real-world relevance of center activities.

10:00 am   Break | Magnolia 2 and Prefunction Space 

10:15 am   Embedding Technology Transfer into Your Center's Business Plan | Magnolia 1

Technology transfer is essential to ensuring that university transportation research leads to measurable improvements in practice, policy, and system performance. This session will explore how centers can intentionally integrate technology transfer and implementation strategies into their business plans, operational models, and performance goals. Panelists will share practical approaches for moving research project deliverables beyond publication—highlighting partnerships with public agencies and industry, deployment pathways, stakeholder engagement strategies, and mechanisms for scaling promising research outcomes. Participants will gain insights into building structured processes that support adoption, demonstrate impact, and strengthen accountability to funders and stakeholders. The discussion will emphasize actionable models that help centers translate research into implementation, reinforcing the connection between discovery, deployment, and real-world results.

11:45 am   Lunch To Go | Magnolia Prefunction Space 

** This agenda is subject to change.

Note that there is no direct air service to Auburn, Alabama because it is centrally located within a short drive of two major international airports and one regional airport. The three airports, listed in decreasing size, are listed below. 

Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) 

ATL is located approximately 100 miles from the Auburn campus. It is served by at least 8 major domestic lines and is the primary hub for Delta Air Lines. Atlanta offers non-stop flights to over 160 domestic destinations. 

Important Note: When booking your flight to/from Atlanta, please remember the airport is located in an Eastern Time Zone. Auburn, Alabama is in the Central Time Zone. 

Rental cars are available for the approximate 90-minute drive to campus. Alternatively, Groome offers a shuttle service from the airport to Auburn. While schedules vary, they often depart hourly throughout the day. More information can be found below. 

Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)

BHM is located approximately 115 miles from the Auburn campus. It is Alabama's largest airport with nonstop flights to roughly 20 destinations. Major carriers include American, Delta, Southwest, and United. Rental cars are available for the two hour drive to Auburn. There is no shuttle service available. 

Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM)

MGM is located approximately 65 miles from the Auburn campus and offers connections to major airline hubs in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, and Houston. Rental cars are available for the one hour drive to Auburn. There is no shuttle service available.