The Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center (MarTREC) is a U.S. Department of Transportation Tier 1 University Transportation Center, funded through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.
MarTREC was competitively awarded under MAP-21, the FAST Act and now the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Our work contributes primarily to the USDOT strategic goals of Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness.
Our Vision
To be recognized as the nation’s premier source for expertise on maritime and multimodal transportation research and education.
Tier 1
USDOT University Transportation Center
6
Consortium universities
3
Federal awards: MAP-21, FAST Act & IIJA
Why Maritime Transportation Matters
40,518
Arkansas jobs supported by waterway commerce, plus $5.5 billion in revenue
Source: MarTREC, 2024
21.8 million
U.S. jobs supported by ports and the maritime industry, about 1 in 8 jobs nationwide
Source: AAPA, 2024
1,050
Trucks needed to carry the cargo of a single 15-barge tow (or 216 rail cars)
Our Consortium
MarTREC brings together renowned maritime transportation researchers dedicated to transferable research and innovative education and workforce development. Each member is strategically located along the Mississippi River, the Cumberland River or the Gulf Coast.
Louisiana State University
Mississippi River · Gulf Coast
Gulf Coast Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency
University of New Orleans
Mississippi River · Gulf Coast
Vanderbilt University
Cumberland River
Center for Transportation and Operational Resiliency (VECTOR)
Spotlight
Congratulations
Amelia Lawson, Louisiana State University
Council of University Transportation Centers Outstanding Student of the Year 2026
Amelia is a Ph.D. student at Louisiana State University and associate director of the Gulf Coast Center for Evacuation and Transportation Resiliency. Her dissertation is titled “Investigating Traffic Safety During Wildfire and Hurricane Evacuations.”
Explore MarTREC
Research
Ongoing and completed projects, grant performance reports and faculty expertise.
View researchEducation & Workforce
Degree programs, professional training, the Dan Flowers Distinguished Lecture Series and student awards.
Learn moreK-12 Outreach
Summer camps, STEMusic and transportation career programs for students across the consortium.
See programsOur People
Center directory and the professional advisory board guiding MarTREC’s work.
View directory