North Dakota Legislature Modifies UGPTI Enabling Law

The 2003 Legislature made some significant changes to the Transportation Institute's enabling legislation this session. The request for changes was made by the State Board of Higher Education and North Dakota State University at the recommendation of the Institute's Advisory Council. The two areas in which changes were made were the make-up of the Advisory Council, and in the Purpose-Powers and Duties.

The Advisory Council was broadened by adding several organizations, including the North Dakota Department of Transportation. This is extremely important to the future of the Institute because of the close relationship that has developed between the NDDOT and the Institute during the past 20 years. Another important addition was the North Dakota Association of General Contractors (AGC). Transportation construction is a major component of the AGC and an important industry to North Dakota. Another addition broadening the Council was a representative from the manufacturing sector. Transportation and logistics are critical to the success of this industrial sector, which now ranks with production agriculture in its importance to North Dakota's economy.

Representation on the Council was also strengthened in recognition of agriculture's continued importance to the state's economy. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture and the North Dakota Grain Growers were both added to the Council.

The purpose of the Institute was broadened by adding logistics as an area of research. Transportation is the glue that binds the logistics process together. What's more, even though logistics includes a wide variety of business activities such as warehousing, inventory control, procurement, production scheduling, etc., transportation is usually the single most major cost component in the entire process. The Institute has been conducting research in the area of logistics since its beginning in areas such as grain transportation and handling.

The action of the legislature formalizes work that continues to grow in importance and emphasis. These modifications in legislative language provide the environment for the Institute to evolve in the future - consistent with changes taking place in the state and world economy and society.