$9.7 million UTRGV and Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen partnership

By Maria Gonzalez

Students at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will significantly impact the rail industry and help reduce train derailments, thanks to a groundbreaking $9.7 million research partnership with the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS), formalized on Thursday, Jan. 16.

Through the UTRGV University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS), this collaboration aims to enhance national rail safety and reduce derailments while equipping UTRGV students with valuable skills and opportunities in a vital industry.

The signing ceremony, held in McAllen, celebrated the launch of this initiative focused on advancing rail safety through next-generation technologies and workforce development.

Led by Dr. Constantine Tarawneh, UTCRS was awarded $4 million as part of the collaboration to implement state-of-the-art technology to prevent train derailments caused by wheel and bearing failures.

The project is funded by the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. The CRISI program, a competitive grant initiative, received quadruple funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, marking the largest ever award for rail safety.

Special guests at the ceremony included UTRGV President Guy Bailey; Amit Bose, FRA administrator; Mark Patterson, associate administrator, FRA Office of Research, Data, and Innovation; Michael S. Baldwin, president of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; Ruben Peña Bolívar, director of Modernization and Integration, ENSCO, Inc.; and Byron Porter, CEO and founder of Hum Industrial Technology, Inc.

ADVANCING RAIL SAFETY THROUGH INNOVATION

In 2023, the urgency for improved rail safety was underscored by 1,305 reported derailments, according to the FRA’s Office of Safety Analysis. Bose emphasized the significance of partnerships in advancing safety and innovation during his final visit to UTRGV.

“This is officially my last trip as FRA Administrator, and I couldn’t think of a better place to mark the occasion than here at UTRGV,” Bose said, expressing his enjoyment of touring UTRGV’s railway safety labs and meeting the dedicated individuals – from students to faculty – who are involved.

Bose highlighted that investments in workforce development, research and technology not only advances safety but also benefit communities.

“This partnership highlights the potential to shape the future of rail safety by bringing together labor representatives, academia and private industry to tackle long-standing challenges and drive meaningful change,” he said.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey also emphasized the university’s commitment to fostering innovative collaborations to address issues impacting communities across the state and the country.

“At UTRGV, we are dedicated to creating solutions that make a difference,” Bailey said. “Through this partnership, we aim to enhance rail safety standards by working with industry leaders to develop innovative approaches.”

“This collaboration reflects our commitment to impactful research and community engagement, ensuring our efforts benefit workers, students and the public alike,” he noted.

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO SHAPE THE INDUSTRY

Michael S. Baldwin, BRS president, reiterated the union’s dedication to safety, emphasizing the importance of collaboration to ensure that technological advancements benefit workers.

“This partnership represents a bold step forward for our union, our industry and the communities we serve,” Baldwin said. “Together with UTRGV, ENSCO and Hum, we are creating opportunities to enhance safety, empower our workforce and shape the future of the industry.”

The initiative, titled Next Generation PTC-Integrated Onboard Smart Technologies and Training for Rolling Stock Condition Monitoring to Mitigate Train Derailment (NexGenPOST2), will integrate predictive technologies into Positive Train Control (PTC) systems and includes:

Transportation Technology Center (TTC) operated by ENSCO, Inc.: Conducting field testing and validating system effectiveness.

Hum Industrial Technology, Inc.: Integrating real-time monitoring sensors for railcars to improve response times and minimize service disruptions.

UTRGV’s UTCRS: Providing expertise in laboratory testing and data analysis while mentoring the next generation of rail safety professionals.

Dr. Can (John) Saygin, UTRGV senior vice president for Research and dean of the Graduate College, emphasized the transformative potential of the partnership.

“This partnership exemplifies UTRGV’s commitment to transformative research and workforce development,” Saygin said. “It’s not just about funding – it’s about the lives we can impact. This initiative demonstrates our ability to create meaningful change for our region and beyond.”

UTRGV’S LEADERSHIP AND STUDENT SUCCESS

With the largest bearing testing facilities in the U.S., UTRGV’s UTCRS is well-positioned to lead in this field, according to Tarawneh. He credits the center’s success to institutional support, partnerships, and, most importantly, the students who work in the labs.

“Technology will never replace humans, but we need to train people to use these tools effectively,” he added. “This partnership creates opportunities for our students to gain valuable skills and make meaningful contributions to the industry.”

The UTCRS engages 90 students, 15 faculty members and 4 staff members in research and development, supported by $23 million in active grants.

The signing ceremony underscored the collaboration’s significance in advancing workforce development, enhancing rail safety and benefiting communities nationwide.

“This partnership shows what is possible when we work together to improve safety, invest in workforce development and embrace innovation,” Bose said. “The investments we make today will shape the future of rail safety for generations to come.”