Menu
The U.S. Department of Transportation is celebrating 50 years of safety research and innovation at the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado.
TTC is a proving ground for safety standards development and the latest rail technologies, providing researchers, regulators and industry an unrivaled, full-scale laboratory to carry out advanced field testing. Recently, Amtrak’s newest Acela train set was tested on the center’s electrified tracks, ensuring safety and performance standards.
“TTC is a vital resource for FRA and the railroad industry,” FRA Deputy Administrator Amit Bose said. “For decades, this facility’s work has contributed immensely to dramatic transportation safety improvements. We’re grateful for the men and women who dedicate themselves to applying the latest and best science and engineering available to rail. We look forward to another half century of safety and innovation.”
The 52-square-mile facility in rural Colorado provides a safe environment for railroad research, testing and training. After the High-Speed Ground Transportation Act of 1965 authorized its development, U.S. Secretary of Transportation John Volpe inaugurated the site on May 19, 1971.
Congress created the center to research and develop high-speed ground transportation. TTC’s scientific expertise has expanded greatly. Its 50 miles of track are engineered to test numerous rail scenarios. TTC boasts laboratories, maintenance shops and full-scale training facilities. These capabilities have enabled FRA to develop realistic training situations and improve safety standards related to passenger rail crashworthiness and tank car standards, among many others.
In addition to government entities, TTC continues to attract commercial rail industry organizations that rely on the center’s testing prowess to determine the strengths and wear capacities of their own products.
TTC will provide a central hub for transportation research and development (R&D), training, and testing for all aspects of the transportation industry to include government, educational, and commercial entities.
© 2022 ENSCO, Inc. | ENSCO, Inc. and its wholly owned U.S. subsidiaries are equal opportunity/affirmative action employers, committed to diversity in the workplace. No employee or applicant will be discriminated against with regard to race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding and related medical conditions), marital status, genetic information, protected medical or family care leaves (requesting or approved for leave under federal or state law), retaliation for reporting patient abuse in tax supported institutions, physical or mental disability or medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), military or protected veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, political affiliation, reproductive health decision’s, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.