Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute Celebrates 50 Years Aug. 30 at NDSU

The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University will celebrate its 50th Anniversary Wednesday, Aug. 30, from noon to 4 p.m. with safety and transportation exhibits, free food, and information about the Institute and its history.

The celebration will be held on the south end of NDSU Visitor Parking Lot E. There will be a brief program at 12:30 featuring comments from UGPTI and university officials as well as representatives from North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum's office and the offices of North Dakota Senators John Hoeven, Heidi Heitkamp, and ND Congressman Kevin Cramer.

Hands-on exhibits will be open until 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

• Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute will display exhibits about its history as well as current research, outreach and education programs.
• ND Army National Guard will display one of its vehicles and will serve hot dogs to the first 500 visitors.
• ND Army National Guard will demonstrate the hazards of impaired driving through the use of impaired driving simulation goggles and large trikes on an obstacle course.
• MATBUS will have one of its buses on display and will provide route information and giveaways.
• Great Rides Bikeshare will exhibit one of its bikes and staff will be available to answer questions.
• Bike FM will provide information about bike routes and biking in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
• The ND Department of Transportation will have a hologram board and virtual reality goggles to simulate impaired driving and involvement in a crash.
• FM Ambulance will display one of its state-of-the-art ambulances.
• FM Transportation Club will demonstrate the "no zone" by allowing visitors to climb into the cab of a semi so they can see the blind spots that drivers should avoid.
• MState in Moorhead will allow visitors to experience driving a "big rig" through the use of its truck-driving simulator.
• CAT will allow participants to learn how to operate a motor grader or large excavator through the use of one of its simulators.
• NDSU Police and Safety Office has arranged for display of the Deutscher Family Vehicle. The Deutscher family was killed by a drunk driver in 2012. The display allows viewers to see first-hand the tragic result of drunken driving.
• NDSU Police and Safety will also allow visitors to don "beer goggles" and play Mario Cart to demonstrate the effects of impaired driving.

In addition to the exhibits and demonstrations, staff of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute will be available to answer questions about the Institute and its programs. The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute was created in 1967 by the North Dakota Legislature to study the unique transportation challenges facing agricultural producers and processors in the region. The institute has broadened its mission substantially and creatively, responding to emerging needs. Its current mission is to provide innovative transportation research, education, and outreach that promote the safe and efficient movement people and goods.

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For more information contact Tom Jirik, UGPTI communications coordinator, at thomas.jirik@ndsu.edu or (701) 231-9629.