TTCI Setting Up New Pueblo Facility
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Transportation Technology Center, Inc. (TTCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), is establishing an independent training and on-track testing facility in Pueblo, Colo., the company says “is capable of meeting the needs of today’s rail industry and testing tomorrow’s transportation solutions.” Located south of TTCI’s existing USDOT-owned facility, it will be operational in 2022.
Located on the expansive PuebloPlex facility in Pueblo County, TTCI’s new location “will serve as the epicenter for TTCI’s globally renowned research, testing, and training services,” the organization noted. “Extensive planning and scheduling activities are under way for a phased construction that will ensure service continuity. The new location at PuebloPlex also offers expansion opportunities to meet evolving industry and research needs. The site will feature a high tonnage loop for accelerated service testing, curve negotiation loops, as well as additional track infrastructure necessary to support AAR certification testing.”
The new location will also house a “reimagined” Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC), the organization’s fully immersive hazmat response training facility. SERTC’s new campus will feature “modern equipment and enhanced training scenarios to better serve the emergency response community.” First courses at the new facility will begin in early 2022.
“Development at PuebloPlex will afford TTCI more freedom to make key capital investments, streamline operations, increase flexibility and improve cost-effectiveness,” TTCI said. “Further benefits include the preservation of TTCI’s delivery of independent assessments and the ability to maintain high levels of confidentiality for proprietary customer research and testing. As it has for more than 40 years, TTCI will continue to provide vital support to the nation’s rail industry as its most trusted research, testing and engineering services partner. Building on its legacy of excellence, TTCI is committed to providing innovative business solutions to [address] transportation challenges now and in the future. Through focused funding and strategic planning, TTCI is making key investments in the people and facilities to take on new technological challenges in the rail industry and beyond.”
“As TTCI continues to evolve into an increasingly nimble and responsive organization, our facilities must be able to keep pace,” said Kari Gonzales, TTCI President and CEO. “With this new, independent site, TTCI will make targeted, strategic investments in key, cutting-edge equipment and facilities to support the industry in a way we never could before.”
“Pueblo has long been home to rail research and innovation, which is why we are thrilled to have TTCI serve as an anchor tenant for PuebloPlex and the region’s economy,” said PuebloPlex President and CEO Russell DeSalvo. “This is a long-haul relationship that will meet TTCI and the rail community’s needs today as well as create opportunities for future development and innovation.”
