TTI Expands South Texas Presence with New Corpus Christi Office
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has expanded its presence in South Texas with a new office on the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) campus, strengthening collaboration between the two Texas A&M University System institutions and creating new opportunities to address transportation and regional needs in Corpus Christi and the surrounding area.
The office, which opened July 1, will initially support research and partnerships related to port operations, community resiliency and regional planning. It also gives TTI researchers a local presence to work more closely with TAMU-CC faculty and researchers, regional transportation partners and other organizations throughout South Texas.
“Having researchers on the ground in Corpus Christi gives us another opportunity to connect TTI’s expertise with the transportation needs of a growing and economically important part of Texas,” said Bill Eisele, research group lead for TTI’s Planning Research Group. “It also strengthens our ability to collaborate with our colleagues across the Texas A&M University System and develop research around the issues that matter most to the region.”
The effort brings together expertise from TTI’s International Trade and Border Transportation Program (ITBT) and Center for Ports and Waterways (CPW). David Salgado, ITBT program manager; Carlos Silva, ITBT assistant program manager; and Vince Mantero, CPW director, are helping lead the initiative.
Araceli Lopez-Acosta, an assistant research scientist with ITBT, is based at the new office and will help coordinate TTI’s activities and partnerships in the region.
The Corpus Christi presence grew from discussions earlier this year between TTI researchers and Ahmed Mahdy, executive vice president for research and innovation at TAMU-CC. Those conversations identified several areas where the institutions’ capabilities and research interests intersect, particularly around ports, freight movement, resiliency and regional development.
Corpus Christi provides a natural setting for that collaboration. The region plays an important role in Texas’ freight and maritime systems, while continued growth creates opportunities to address transportation, infrastructure and resiliency needs through research and partnerships.
“South Texas is experiencing tremendous growth, and with that growth comes important questions about how we move people and goods, strengthen our communities and build a more resilient region,” said Mahdy. “This partnership brings together complementary expertise from across the Texas A&M University System and positions us to develop innovative, research-driven solutions that can benefit Corpus Christi, the Coastal Bend and the state of Texas.”
By establishing a presence on the TAMU-CC campus, TTI researchers will be positioned to work more closely with university faculty, students and regional partners while connecting those efforts with TTI expertise across the state.
“Corpus Christi sits at the crossroads of trade, ports and community resilience, and TAMU-CC brings the researchers, faculty and students to meet that potential,” Salgado said. “As partners in the A&M System, TTI and TAMU-CC can turn research into real benefits for the region and the state of Texas.”
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