[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12099]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   TRIBUTE TO TEXAS TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

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                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2000

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
accomplishments and contributions of the Texas Transportation Institute 
at Texas A&M University to improved safety on our nations highways. 
This year marks a historic occasion for the institute as they celebrate 
their 50th year. Since its inception, the Texas Transportation 
Institute has conducted applied research in all modes of transportation 
and transferred the results to the public and private sectors, 
enhancing transportation safety, efficiency and sustainability, and I 
would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr. Herbert H. 
Richardson and the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI).
  Looking back on the history of the Institute gives us an interesting 
perspective on how far we've come in terms of transportation and 
technological advances. I was interested to note that some of the 
earliest safety research performed by TTI was to develop safer roadside 
structures, including breakaway supports and impact attenuation 
systems. As you are aware, one of the first real-world tests of a 
breakaway sign occurred in September 1965 when a driver lost control of 
his vehicle and skidded into an ``EXIT'' sign on IH-10 near Beaumont. 
Less than 24 hours before the accident, the local THD maintenance force 
had placed the TTI-designed slip base and hinge sign support in place 
of the old fixed one. In this accident, the driver and passenger 
escaped uninjured, and the vehicle sustained only minor damage. Less 
than a year earlier, a driver hit the same sign, then mounted on a 
standard base, and was killed. Today, highway safety is still an issue 
of major concern and I am pleased that TTI has continued to develop 
technological advances, such as the ADIEM crach cushion, to make our 
nation's roads and highways safer. Many Americans owe their lives to 
the development of this technology, which is now in use in nearly 40 
states. You and the Institute can certainly be proud of the work.
  In the 1950's, Dean of the College of Engineering, Fred Benson was 
quoted in the Daily Eagle as saying ``The Institute intends to assemble 
a group of men at this college with a thorough knowledge of all types 
of transportation. These men . . . will provide a forum for analyzing 
and discussing problems [and] will outline and guide our research 
program and provide high level education to mature students with an 
interest in transportation.'' Given the fact that TTI employs about 570 
people, is home to four National Research Clearinghouses and eight 
National Research Centers, and has urban laboratories in every major 
metropolitan area in the state, I am certain that Dr. Benson would 
indeed be very proud of the men and women of TTI and their many 
accomplishments. I extend to them my heartfelt congratulations and best 
wished for the next 50 years.

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