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South Carolina State begins construction of $70 million Clyburn transportation center

Submitted by: John Warner on Oct 28, 2005 at 10:58 am Tagged with: Automotive Source:

South Carolina State begins construction of Clyburn transportation center

Associated Press

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - South Carolina State University broke ground Friday on a $70 million transportation center to be named for U.S. Rep. James Clyburn.

Students will learn about topics ranging from passenger and freight transportation to highway and transit issues at the James E. Clyburn Transportation, Research and Conference Center .

Clyburn, D-S.C., said he helped craft a transportation bill that established 33 transportation centers at schools around the country. He said fellow lawmakers asked him what school should receive South Carolina's transportation center.

"They were debating the University of South Carolina or Clemson," said Clyburn, a South Carolina State alumnus. "I said, 'Neither. I want it at South Carolina State.'"

He said he is proud of how far the historically black college has come since his student days and that it will soon have state-of-the-art facilities to conduct research into transportation issues, such as alternative fuels.

The school's transportation program, the only one in the state that offers a master's degree, currently does not have its own building, college spokeswoman Erica Prioleau said.

The new center will house a research lab, conference center, library and other amenities. Construction will take place in phases.