ABOUT US
Center Overview
Why Memphis
Relationship with Other University Transportation Activities
Executive Committee
Directory of Key Center Personnel
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. (Need to put a hot link to the strategic plan)
The Tennessee Department of Transportation will be providing matching funds to support programs of importance to transportation and economic development in Tennessee.
WHY MEMPHIS
Having a University Transportation Center in Memphis is a natural. Memphis, known as “North America’s Distribution Center”, is a focal point for intermodal transportation. Strategically positioned with five Class 1 railroads, crossed by several Interstate highways, and home to the world’s largest air cargo airport and the nation’s fourth busiest inland waterway port, it is a major intermodal hub. The two major western railroads, BNSF and Union Pacific have their eastern terminals in the Memphis region where they interface with the Norfolk Southern, CSX and Canadian National railroads. The Union Pacific has a major intermodal terminal in eastern Arkansas and both the BNSF and the Canadian National have major intermodal terminal expansions underway in Memphis. I-55 and I-40 cross at Memphis. Both carry substantial truck volumes, servicing the entire region as well as the nation as a whole. The I-69 NAFTA corridor, connecting Canada and Mexico, will pass through the region and become an important transportation asset. Plans are also underway to upgrade other major arterials (US 78 and US 61) connecting Memphis to the region.
The world headquarters of Federal Express is located in Memphis, and its presence has spawned a vibrant warehousing-distribution industry. Global companies such as Nike and Williams-Sonoma as well as bio-medical firms like Medtronic and Wright Medical have established major facilities in Memphis. This led to Memphis International Airport processing more cargo by US Customs than any other airport in the country.
Located to the west in neighboring Arkansas is a significant collection of trucking firms and the headquarters of Wal-Mart, a leader in logistics and supply chain management innovation. With Memphis closer to more major markets overnight by truck than any other city in America, it is no wonder that 400 trucking companies call Memphis home.
To the east, I-24, I-65, I-75 and I-81 carry large volumes of truck traffic within and through the State of Tennessee and the eastern United States. Nissan and Saturn operate major assembly plants, and Nissan recently moved its North American headquarters to the Nashville area. Major north-south routes served by CSX and Norfolk Southern have national importance, and Tennessee has an extensive network of short line railroads. The Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers link Tennessee and adjacent states with the inland waterway system.
For more information on why Memphis is considered North America’s Distribution Center, please visitwww.MemphisDelivers.com.
RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION ACTIVITIES
The University of Memphis received an additional earmark in the SAFETEA-LU legislation to create The Center for Advanced Intermodal Technologies (CAIT). The amount of the funding was $5 million over a five year period with a required 20% match. Both CAIT and CIFTS are focused on the study of intermodal freight transportation issues. It is envisioned that CAIT will involve greater interaction with transportation providers and others in the private sector in the areas of logistics and supply chain management.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of CIFTS is composed of leaders in industry, government and academia. The committee held its first meeting on campus on November 8, 2008. Dr. Lipinski provided on overview presentation on CIFTS and the UTC program. Members provided excellent feedback and suggestions related to potential center activities, including the need to emphasize issues in transportation safety and security.
The members of the Executive Committee are:
Mike Bronzini, Dewberry Chair and Research Professor, Dept of Civil Engineering, George Mason University (Chair of Research Committee)
Ed Cole, Chief of Environment and Planning, Tennessee Department of Transportation
Mason Kaufmann, Chief Marketing Officer, Continental Traffic Services
Steve Liberto, Vice President, Global Trade Services, Federal Express
Cliff Lynch, Principal, C.F. Lynch and Associates
Craig Phillip, President and CEO, Ingram Barge Company
Gipson (Sunny) Morris, Liaison For Special Projects, Mid-South Community College (Chair of Education Committee)
Dexter Muller, Senior Vice-President, Community Development, Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce (Chair, Technology Transfer Committee)
Keith Reardon, Vice-President and Managing Director, Canadian National Worldwide North America Railway
Marty Lipinski (Ex-Officio), Director Center for Intermodal Freight Transportaiton Studies, University of Memphis
Mal Baird (Ex-Officio), Research Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Vanderbilt University
Andy Meyers (Ex-Officio), Vice-Provost for Research, University of Memphis
Richard C. Warder (Ex-Officio), Dean Herff College of Engineering, University of Memphis
DIRECTORY OF KEY CENTER PERSONNEL
ADMINISTRATION
Martin E. Lipinski, Director
Center for Intermodal Freight Transportation Studies
302 Engineering Administration
The University of Memphis
Memphis, TN. 38152-3170
Email: mlipinsk@memphis.edu
Phone: 901-678-3279
Fax: 901-678-3026
Sean Ellis, Associate Director and Business Manager
Center for Intermodal Freight Transportation Studies
302 Engineering Administration
The University of Memphis
Memphis, TN. 38152-3170
Email: scellis1@memphis.edu
Phone: 901-678-2837
Fax: 901-678-3026
Malcolm Baird, Associate Director, Policy
Vanderbilt Center for Transportation Research
VU Station B #351831
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37235-1831
Email: malcom.e.baird@vanderbilt.edu
Phone: (615) 322-6043
Fax: (615) 322-3365
Faculty Associates
James Dobbins, Ph.D.
Box 1831, Station B Phone (615) 322-0430
Vanderbilt University Fax (615) 322-3365
Nashville, TN 37235 j.dobbins@vanderbilt.edu
Mark Abkowitz, Ph.D.
Box 1831, Station B Phone (615) 343-3436
Vanderbilt University Fax (615) 322-3365
Nashville, TN 37235 mark.abkowitz@vanderbilt.edu
Mark L. Gillenson, Ph.D.
329 Fogelman Admin. Bldg Phone (901) 678-5607
University of Memphis Fax (901) 678-2685
Memphis, TN 38152 mgillnsn@memphis.edu
Euntae “Ted” Lee, Ph.D.
330 Fogelman Admin Bldg Phone (901) 678-2697
University of Memphis Fax (901) 6782685
Memphis, TN 38152 elee@memphis.edu
Mehdi Amini, Ph.D.
301C FedEx Institute of Tech Phone (901) 678-2479
University of Memphis Fax (901) 678-2685
Memphis, TN 38152 mamini@memphis.edu
Stephanie Ivey, Ph.D.
104 Engineering Science Bldg Phone (901) 678-3286
University of Memphis Fax (901) 678-3026
Memphis, TN 38152 ssalyers@memphis.edu
Jasbir Dhaliwal, Ph.D.
300Fogelman Admin Bldg Phone (901) 678-4613
University of Memphis Fax
Memphis, TN 38152 jdhaliwl@memphis.edu
Ernest L. Nichols, Jr., Ph.D.
201D FedEx Institute of Tech Phone (901) 678-4973
University of Memphis Fax (901) 678-5129
Memphis, TN 38152 enichols@memphis.edu
Michael Racer, Ph.D.
334 Fogelman College of Bus Phone (901) 678-3285
University of Memphis Fax (901) 678-5459
Memphis, TN 38152 mracer@memphis.edu
John E. Gnuschke, Ph.D.
235 Fogelman Exec Ctr Phone (901) 678-2714
University of Memphis Fax (901) 678-4086
Memphis, TN 38152 jgnuschk@memphis.edu
Graduate Students
Sandy Mehlhorn Email: civil_sandy@yahoo.com
Vasudha Boidapu Email: vboidapu@memphis.edu
Hisham Gnedy Email:
hgnedy@memphis.edu
Patrick Mwangi Email:
pmwangi@memphis.edu
Aleksandra Maguire Email:
amaguire@memphis.edu
Roy Lim Email:
haklim@memphis.edu
All Students work out of the University of Memphis Transportation Institute.
302 Engineering Administration Bldg.
Memphis, TN 38152-3170
Phone: (901) 678-3940
Fax: (901) 678-3026
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