Tran-SET

What Tran-SET does

Tran-SET (Transportation Consortium of South Central States) is a federally-funded University Transportation Center (UTC) established in November 2016 and administered by Louisiana State University under the U.S. Department of Transportation's FAST Act UTC program. It operates as a collaborative research consortium of nine major universities and two community colleges across five states (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), with research spanning asphalt and concrete materials, geotechnical engineering, intelligent transportation systems, pavement engineering, structural engineering, construction management, safety, and policy. The consortium has administered over $18.4 million across four consecutive federal grant funding cycles (2017-2020), funding 143+ research projects with cumulative external matching funds exceeding $1M from industrial firms and government agencies.

Tran-SET's core offerings are research, education, and technology transfer services rather than commercial products. Programs include a Transportation Research Program with annual solicitations, an Annual Conference series (2018-2022) offering professional development hours, a bi-monthly seminar series at LSU, workforce development initiatives (veteran scholarships and Native American internships), K-12 STEM outreach, and a 2022 Micromobility Living Lab partnership with Spin (a Ford Motor Company subsidiary). A Center Advisory Board comprising all five Region 6 state DOTs (ARDOT, LADOTD, NMDOT, ODOT, TXDOT), AASHTO, TRB, ASCE, APTA, and industry partners (Carmeuse, PaveTex, Chicago Testing Laboratory) governs prioritization and ensures research-to-implementation pathways.

The business model is non-commercial: Tran-SET does not sell products or services. Funding flows through competitive U.S. DOT UTC federal grants with institutional matching, and outputs are disseminated via conferences, webinars, peer-reviewed publications, FHWA NHI training, and direct collaboration with state DOTs. Revenue is administered rather than earned, with no equity, pricing model, or commercial monetization. The consortium employs approximately 10 administrative staff at LSU, with research execution distributed across the 11 partner institutions.

Name

Tran-SET

Legal name

Transportation Consortium of South Central States

Website

https://transet.lsu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tran-SET is a federally-funded University Transportation Center led by LSU, forming a consortium of 11 institutions across five south-central states to conduct transportation infrastructure research, workforce development, and technology transfer.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Research Services

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889)

SIC

Miscellaneous Transportation Equipment (3790)

akta.pro primary industry

Transportation & Traffic Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Transportation & Infrastructure Planning (BPAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Transportation infrastructure research
• University transportation center
• Pavement engineering research
• Transportation workforce development
• Transportation technology transfer

Headquarters

HQ city

Baton Rouge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tran-SET is a federally-funded University Transportation Center that administers and conducts applied transportation infrastructure research across Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX). It funds research projects on materials, pavements, geotechnical engineering, intelligent transportation systems, safety, and structural engineering; delivers conferences, seminars, and workforce development programs; and supports technology transfer to state DOTs and industry practitioners.

Product overview

Tran-SET (Transportation Consortium of South Central States) is Region 6's University Transportation Center led by LSU, operating as a collaborative partnership across 9 major institutions and 2 community colleges covering Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Rather than a commercial software product, Tran-SET offers a portfolio of research and education services including a Transportation Research Program funding projects across materials, pavements, geotechnical, ITS, safety, and structural engineering; Annual Conferences offering professional development hours; a Seminar Series bringing industry leaders to campus; Workforce Development initiatives including veteran scholarships and Native American internships; Technology Transfer services for disseminating research; and a Micromobility Living Lab partnership with Spin. The organization manages the full lifecycle of transportation research from problem statement solicitation through project execution to technology implementation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Transportation Research Program Tran-SET funds and administers advanced transportation research projects across Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX) through competitive proposal cycles, covering asphalt/concrete materials, geotechnical engineering, pavements, intelligent transportation systems, safety, structural engineering, and policy & planning for state DOTs, universities, and industry partners.
• Education Programs Academic support initiatives including graduate research assistantships, undergraduate involvement, curriculum development, and partnerships with minority-serving institutions to increase underrepresented student participation in transportation fields.
• Workforce Development Programs Programs developing the next generation of transportation professionals through internships, research assistantships, mentoring, networking, training, and bi-monthly seminars across the Tran-SET consortium.
• Tran-SET Annual Conference Annual conference series (2018-2022) educating, engaging, and working with stakeholders including academics, industry professionals, state DOTs, and government agencies on transportation challenges facing the South-Central United States, offering up to 12 Professional Development Hours per conference.
• Tran-SET Seminar Series Bi-monthly seminar series bringing transportation industry leaders together with faculty, staff, and students at LSU, featuring cutting-edge research presentations and industry insights. Free and open to the public.
• Technology Transfer Services Dissemination of research findings through webinars, training courses, workshops at TTEC venues, newsletters, and collaboration with FHWA's NHI for short courses targeting DOT personnel.
• Tran-SET Transportation Veteran Scholarship $10,000 scholarship awarded to two veterans per year for up to two years, supporting graduate students in transportation-related fields at LSU working on Tran-SET research projects.
• Native American Transportation Internship One-month fully-paid summer internship providing two transportation students from partnering universities hands-on research experience at LSU, including topical presentations and networking with transportation professionals.
• STEM Resources and Outreach Educational resources for K-12 students, parents, and teachers including virtual activities, training for educators, STEM contests, educational videos, and participation in engineering events like LSU's XCITE and REHAMS summer camps.
• Micromobility Living Lab Partnership with Spin (Ford Motor Company micromobility company) creating a living lab environment at LSU campus to research e-cargo bikes and trikes in areas of safety, mobility, data science, AI, and geofencing to inform public policy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 179 research projects funded across 4 cycles totaling over $18.4 million
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability12 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Spin (Ford Motor Company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Spin, a leading micromobility company emerging from Ford Motor Company, to create a 'Living Lab' environment at LSU. Research focuses on e-cargo bikes (and trikes) in areas of safety, mobility, data science, AI, geofencing, and hardware to inform public policy. Funded through a problem statement solicitation for LSU researchers in the field of micromobility.
• Arkansas State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Associate Director Dr. Zahid Hossain leads research in geotechnical and transportation materials. Contributed 100+ peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.
• Baton Rouge Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 2 community colleges in the Tran-SET consortium. Contributes construction management expertise and workforce development support.
• Navajo Technical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Hosts Native American Transportation Internship program and workforce development research for Navajo Nation.
• New Mexico State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Dr. Craig Newtson (Professor) and Dr. Paola Bandini (Associate Professor) lead civil engineering research.
• Oklahoma State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Dr. Samir Ahmed leads research in transportation systems design, planning, management, and intelligent transportation systems.
• Prairie View A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Dr. Raghava Kommalapati directs the Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability and has received $10.76M from 40 research grants.
• Texas A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Dr. Ibrahim Karaman (Department Head, Materials Science) and Dr. Anand Puppala (Associate Dean of Research) lead research with over $24.7M in grants and 133+ publications.
• University of New MexicocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Dr. Susan Bogus (AGC Endowed Chair) and Dr. Mahmoud Reda Taha (Department Chair) lead construction engineering and management research.
• University of Texas at ArlingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Dr. Stefan Romanoschi leads pavement engineering research with 21 years experience and $4.9M in research funding.
• University of Texas at San AntoniocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of 9 major institutions in the Tran-SET consortium. Dr. Samer Dessouky leads infrastructure sustainability research with over 20 years experience and $6M+ in funding.
• Louisiana Transportation Research Center (LTRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization led by Dr. Sam Cooper Jr. (Director) and Dr. Tyson Rupnow (Associate Director). Conducts research, technology transfer, workforce development, and materials testing programs. Serves as TRB representative for Louisiana.
• Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Mark Headley (Division Head - System Information and Research). Provides industry perspective and transportation infrastructure needs guidance.
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Eric Kalivoda (Deputy Secretary). Provides state agency perspective and implementation guidance.
• Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Alan Stevenson (Division Engineer). Contributes to research prioritization and implementation planning.
• New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member providing regional transportation infrastructure perspective and needs identification.
• Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member providing regional transportation infrastructure perspective.
• Alliance Safety CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Kathy Trahan (President & CEO). Provides safety industry perspective for transportation research.
• Capital Region Planning Commission (CRPC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by James Setze (Executive Director). Provides regional planning perspective.
• CarmeuseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member providing industrial perspective for construction materials.
• Chicago Testing LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member providing testing and quality assurance industry perspective.
• PaveTexminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Brett Haggerty (General Manager). Provides pavement industry expertise.
• Ports Association of LouisianaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member providing maritime transportation infrastructure perspective.
• Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Patrick Gallagher (President). Provides workforce development and education perspective.
• Louisiana Economic DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Fadi Faraji (Vice President). Provides economic development perspective on transportation infrastructure.
• Louisiana Workforce CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Will Seaman (Director of Workforce Alignment) and Connie Fabre. Provides workforce development expertise.
• TxLTAPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAB member represented by Bryan Sims. Local Technical Assistance Program providing training and support for transportation workforce.
• ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Tran-SET conferences (2019 with T&DI, 2020 with Construction Institute). Provides professional organization support and conference co-sponsorship.
• AASHTOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration planned to implement project findings in current specifications. Strategic partner for research dissemination.
• TRB (Transportation Research Board)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration planned for research dissemination through annual meetings, sessions, and committee meetings. Quarterly webinar series with rotating UTCs.
• APTA (American Public Transportation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration planned through government and not-for-profit institution partnerships for research dissemination.
• FHWA (Federal Highway Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through NHI for conducting short courses and workshops to share results with DOT personnel and educate on new advancements. Source of UTC funding.
• LTAP Centers (Local Technical Assistance Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration planned to share research results and present implementation plans at national meetings.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center (MarTREC): MarTREC is a UTC consortium (University of Arkansas, Jackson State, Louisiana State, and Texas A&M-Galveston) focused on maritime, port, and intermodal freight. It shares Tran-SET's LSU administration and consortium structure, making it a closely comparable peer.
• Center for Transportation Research (CTR) at UT Austin: CTR is a Tier 1 UTC and university-based transportation research center focused on infrastructure, pavements, mobility, and policy. It is one of the leading UTC competitors and overlaps Tran-SET in research topics, geography, and DOT relationships.
• Midwest Transportation Center: Midwest Transportation Center is a regional UTC covering several Midwestern states. It is a structurally comparable UTC consortium with similar federal funding dynamics, multi-institution model, and transportation infrastructure research scope.
• Center for Advanced Multimodal Mobility Solutions and Education (CAMMSE): CAMMSE at UNC Charlotte is a UTC focused on multimodal mobility, safety, and education. It is a peer UTC competitor with overlapping research themes in ITS, safety, and workforce development.
• Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI): Tamu TTI is a state-affiliated transportation research institute covering materials, safety, mobility, and infrastructure, with a substantially larger scale and broader mandate than Tran-SET. It is the most direct regional peer and shares many CAB and TRB pathways with Tran-SET consortium members.
• Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans): PacTrans is a UTC consortium serving the Pacific Northwest (WA, OR, ID, AK) with overlapping research themes in safety, infrastructure, and mobility. It is a regional UTC peer with comparable federal mandate and consortium structure.
• Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University: MTI is a UTC focused on surface transportation policy, mobility, safety, and workforce. Like Tran-SET, it is a federally funded multi-institution consortium model with strong education and technology transfer components, making it a structural peer.
• C2SMART (Connected Cities for Smart Mobility toward Accessible and Resilient Transportation): C2SMART at NYU is a Tier 1 UTC consortium focused on connected vehicles, smart mobility, and resilient infrastructure. It is a peer UTC with overlapping intelligent transportation systems research themes relevant to Tran-SET.
• NEXTRANS Center at Purdue University: NEXTRANS is a UTC consortium focused on multimodal and intermodal transportation systems research. It is a peer UTC with overlapping pavement, safety, and infrastructure research themes.

Broad incumbents

• Transportation Research Board (TRB): TRB is the broader national transportation research coordinating body that hosts all UTCs and serves as a primary dissemination channel for Tran-SET. While not a direct competitor, it is the institutional umbrella peer that defines UTC funding and research priorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/utclsu
• Facebookfacebook.com/utclsu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tran-set

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tran-SET