The Kansas Transportation Research and New Developments (K-TRAN) Program is a cooperative research program designed in partnership with Kansas State University and The University of Kansas, to address the specific transportation research needs of the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).

Since 1991, over 300+ different projects have been investigated, which has resulted in excellent data and information in the hands of practitioners to be able to answer challenging and complex transportation engineering problems.

Not only does this program conduct outstanding scientific inquiry, but it also helps deliver critical renewable workforce development opportunities at all levels of the process – which serves to strengthen each future graduate class as they go into the workforce, as well as the University faculty who lead each project as Principal Investigators in concert with the internal KDOT Project Monitor partners who help guide the process.

The K-TRAN research program runs on an annual cycle that begins with a solicitation for both Research Needs and Research Ideas. ‘Research Needs’ are asked from each of KDOT’s Area Panel Leaders —expert staff within KDOT, who serve at the forefront of the known vs. the unknown, with an understanding of what questions need to be answered next. ‘Research Ideas’ can be submitted from any other KDOT staff, city, tribal, or other local governments, as well as other external industry partners.

Research Needs Day is the annual meeting where discussion of submitted ‘Research Needs’ and ‘Ideas’ occurs between KDOT Area Panel Leaders, University faculty and graduate students, and idea submitters. Additional research preproposal Ideas may also be presented by university partners at this event.

Who Should Attend

KDOT Area Panel Leaders and other KDOT subject matter experts, University Engineering Faculty as well as Graduate or Undergraduate Researchers.