Center
The Center is an independently funded non-profit entity under the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute at Penn State University. The Center contracts with the State Conservation Commission to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to entities involved with the Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Maintenance Program. Various other entities also maintain similar contracts with the Center such as the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the PA Game Commission. The Center also engages in other education and research grants and projects through a variety of other state and national sponsors.
While education and outreach continue to be the Center’s primary focus, the need for research has increased significantly because of the increase in Program funding in 2014. You can review past and current research projects at the link above.
Over the past several years, the Center has been getting more involved in Environmentally Sensitive Trail Maintenance. Many of the Centers strategies and practices developed for unpaved roads can be adapted for use on trails. This includes the “Trail Surface Aggregate” (TSA) which is a more durable aggregate used for surfacing trails.
