HISTORY
The Puerto Rico
Transportation Technology Transfer Center was created on April 1,
1986 in the Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying of the
University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. Initially, the Center
was part of the Federal Highway Administration Rural Technical
Assistance Program (RTAP) that emphasized technical assistance to
local transportation officials in rural communities. With the
approval of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act
(ISTEA) in 1991, the program was changed to the present Local
Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and included technical
assistance to urban areas with an expansion of the network to 58
Centers (one in each state, seven in tribal communities and our
Center).
EVOLUTION
DURING THE FIRST TWENTY-SIX YEARS OF THE PUERTO RICO LTAP CENTER
Our Center was originally part of the Region 1 of the Federal
Highway Administration geographical division that included the
states located in the Northeastern portion of the United States.
Since 2002, as part of the reorganization of the Federal Highway
Administration the Center is part of the Southeastern region
with the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
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The Centers of Region 4 collaborate in organizing regional meeting
and conferences and in sharing technology transfer materials and
instructors. At the national level, the LTAP
Centers are coordinated by the Federal Highway Administration with
the assistance of the American Public Works Association
Clearinghouse and the National Association of Transportation
Technology Transfer Centers. At the local level, our Center receives
assistance and guidance from an Advisory Committee consisting of
members from the Federal Highway Administration, the Puerto Rico
Department of Transportation and Public Works, the US Virgin Islands
Department of Public Works, the Office of the Commissioner of
Municipal Affairs, and other agencies that deal with municipal and
transportation issues.
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