Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) awarded two recipients for its Transportation-Related Research and Workforce Development (TRWD) program for the state fiscal year 2027, with Arkansas State University being of the awardees.

A-State was awarded $249,000 to study ARDOT construction project data and conduct field surveys to improve ARDOT’s protocols, as well as identify native species and provide information on resilient roadside vegetation.

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According to ARDOT, the TRWD program, which is limited to publicly funded higher education institutions, supports the research of materials, logistics, processes, and methods that promote sustainability and cost-effectiveness in transportation.

It is also used to support education, economic development, and workforce development for transportation-related personnel via industry training, apprenticeships, and more.

The University of Arkansas was the other recipient, being awarded $211,000 to conduct a series of training across the state focusing on asphalt pavement preservation. In total, ARDOT awarded $460,000 for these two projects.

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