(Pecos)—The West Texas town of Pecos is normally associated with cattle trails, rodeos and cantaloupes. But this dusty desert town is also home to a 5,800-acre former tire testing facility ripe for development into a world class transportation research and testing center.
The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), Applied Research Associates
and the Pecos Economic Development Corporation recognized the potential
of the sprawling facility and are collaborating to develop the complex,
known as the Pecos Research & Testing Center (Pecos RTC).
The unique public-private collaboration began in August.
“Pecos RTC offers many potential opportunities and amenities that TTI
does not currently have,” says Lance Bullard, associate research engineer
with TTI.
“The location and vastness of the facility gives researchers new opportunities to perform research in areas that are both environmentally severe and environmentally sensitive. The remoteness of the location offers privacy for testing that sponsors often find attractive for developmental work. In addition, homeland security research is growing exponentially and often requires the availability of large testing facilities. Pecos RTC can satisfy all of these needs,” he said.
Diverse research and testing potential
Over the years, many auto manufacturers, tire companies and component manufacturers have tested vehicles and equipment at the complex. The center has the potential to perform diverse types of research in many areas of transportation including:
Additionally, TTI has been working with the Petroleum Engineering Department at Texas A&M University to perform a research project that will investigate transportation methodologies and equipment for moving in and setting up oil drilling platforms in environmentally sensitive areas without disturbing the surroundings or leaving a footprint.
TTI Research Scientist Sue Chrylser has been awarded a project entitled “Assessing Driver Distraction Due to In-Vehicle Video Systems.” This project will compare driving performance with and without a video screen present, ideal research for the facility’s closed road course.
The 5,800-acre center features nine distinct test tracks, a full range of support facilities and available acreage for projects requiring either open land or custom facilities.
During its 45-year history, this facility has served as home to key research by automakers from around the world, as well as serving for decades as the primary testing facility for the B.F. Goodrich Company.
There are also numerous buildings on the site, including a 30-bay garage and administrative offices with storage areas. Considerable undeveloped land on the site can accommodate the development of additional custom facilities to support specialized research.
The research and testing possibilities at Pecos RTC are as vast as the West Texas sky.
“Our goals are to develop Pecos RTC into a nationally recognized research test facility with our new research alliance and colleagues at Applied Research Associates, develop new areas of research for TTI and form new research collaborations with private industry,” says Bullard.
For more information, contact Lance Bullard at (979) 845-6153 or l-bullard@tamu.edu.