
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 18, 1994                   TAG: 9405180088
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

`SMART ROAD' ADVOCATE NAMED VA. TECH TRANSPORTATION FELLOW

Former state transportation commissioner Ray Pethtel has been named University Transportation Fellow at Virginia Tech, a two-year post that will make use of his extensive contacts to promote the school's transportation research and efforts to develop the "smart" road.

"I've always felt that the smart road represents an opportunity for the commonwealth, as well as Virginia Tech, to get on the cutting edge of transportation technology, to provide a real laboratory to begin to solve some of the very complex and difficult transportation issues in the state - everything from the safety of drivers to increased capacity - without just laying more asphalt," said Pethtel, who has already moved into an office on campus.

The still-unfunded 5.9-mile road, to stretch from south Blacksburg to Interstate 81, would showcase intelligent vehicle/highway system technology, a new field with potential research funding in the billions.

"Virginia Tech has both an academic and economic interest in transportation issues," Tech President Paul Torgersen said in a statement. "From a practical standpoint, transportation - and particularly roads - are vitally important to a remote university like Virginia Tech. It is a key component in ensuring the future vitality of the university."

Torgersen said Pethtel's "experience will be exceedingly helpful as we continue with our efforts to both advance the intelligent vehicle highway system research and the construction of the `smart highway.'''

Tech is an associate in a General Motors-headed consortium competing for up to $140 million in research funding. The federal Highway Administration will decide which group gets the funding.

Through Gov. George Allen, the state has pledged $10 million to build a two-mile stretch of test road as part of Tech's contribution to the consortium.

While the smart road no doubt will take much of Pethtel's time, he said Tuesday that he also expects to take up other related issues. They include keeping an eye on the new I-83 proposal, which would link Virginia and North Carolina, the proposed Interstate 73, which could run through the New River Valley, and long-range efforts to create mass transportation.

"I'm going to do whatever I can to help match the needs of the university and the needs of the transportation community," he said.

Transportation, he said, "is the one industry that defense agencies are looking at in defense conversion. It is one of the first people started looking at."

Pethtel, a contract employee, officially earns $85,000 per year, but his total compensation will be $99,000. He and his wife, Mary Jane, plan to settle near Blacksburg.

by CNB