CTRE’s director departs
Steve Andrle
CTRE Director, 1999–2006
Steve Andrle served as CTRE’s director from November 1999 through June 2006. He left this summer to take a job with the Transportation Research Board where he’s managing the capacity focus area within the Strategic Highway Research Program II (see http://www.trb.org/shrpii/default.asp).
Under Steve’s leadership, CTRE grew into quite a handsome, healthy research center, from just under $4 million in annual funding in fiscal year 2000 to about $10.5 million in fiscal year 2006. While some of that growth was due to programs that were already in the works when he arrived, Steve was an excellent proponent of CTRE.
During his tenure,
- Seven new “logo” programs/centers got their start at CTRE, including the following:
- The PCC Center, which evolved into the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center and led to national recognition for Iowa State University.
- Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS). Steve says, “It meets a very real need. It provides a mechanism to implement research because approved methods go 'in the book' and are followed.”
- CTRE developed ever stronger relationships with long-term partners such as the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau. Steve says, “I am proud that the relationship with the Iowa DOT keeps getting stronger and more varied. Both CTRE and the Iowa DOT benefit from the relationship.”
- CTRE won nationally competitive research projects, including three National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) projects. CTRE’s first NCHRP project was the Future Strategic Highway Research Program: Study 1 Detailed Planning for Research on Accelerating the Renewal of America's Highways (“Renewal”).
- CTRE received significant gifts that facilitated the purchase of two mobile labs and outfitting the PCC research lab. “They are evidence of trust in CTRE by the sponsors,” Steve says. “The support would never have happened without trust.”
Steve says, “I am proudest of the collaborative and supportive environment at CTRE. People want to work there and more and more faculty choose to work with CTRE. We have an atmosphere of collegiality, trust, and friendship that makes working fun. Continuing that atmosphere is up to everyone.”