U.S. General Services Administration
U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao Celebrates Groundbreaking of New John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
On Wednesday, October 30, United States Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao officially broke ground for the new United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) John A. Volpe Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The much anticipated event was attended by a standing-room only crowd of USDOT, United States General Services Administration (GSA), and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) partners - all who have worked tirelessly to make this event happen.
Dignitaries joining Secretary Chao in the ceremonial groundbreaking included Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Cambridge Mayor Marc McGovern, GSA Chief of Staff Robert Borden, U.S. Senator Edward Markey’s State Director James Cantwell, and MIT Vice President for Research Maria Zuber.
“This new facility will provide important research in transportation technologies, and help create policies that will increase safety and protect lives,” said Secretary Chao.
Following the conclusion of a two-phase solicitation process, GSA entered into an Exchange Agreement with MIT, who will pay $750 million to design and construct a state-of-the-art-facility for Volpe on approximately four acres. The current Volpe Center sits on approximately 14 acres of land in the Kendall Square section of the city - some of the most valuable real estate in the country. In exchange, the portion of the property no longer needed by the federal government will be conveyed to MIT for mixed-use development.
“GSA is proud to provide our partners at the Department of Transportation with this impressive facility that serves USDOT’s vital mission of providing the US the safest, most efficient, and modern transportation system in the world, while saving hundreds of millions of dollars for taxpayers,” said GSA Administrator Emily Murphy. "GSA’s innovative real estate solution converts an underused and outdated asset into a state of the art research facility and an economic engine for the community."
The new facility will replace Volpe’s six existing buildings and surface parking lots with an energy efficient structure accompanied by underground parking and approximately 100 bicycle parking spaces. The new facility will meet LEED Gold v.4 standards, focusing on sustainability.
A leader in transportation systems, analysis, and innovation, the USDOT’s Volpe Center is flexible and responsive to the needs and strategic goals of the department and the priorities of the Secretary of Transportation. The Volpe Center is a unique federal organization that is 100 percent funded by sponsored projects. Although the majority of its work is sponsored by USDOT, the Volpe Center also lends key technical support to over a dozen other federal agencies including the Department of Defense, NASA, Department of the Interior, and Department of Homeland Security, as well as state and local governments. Since its founding in 1970, the Volpe Center has established a rich legacy of looking beyond the horizon to anticipate emerging and future transportation challenges.
The collaborative efforts of USDOT, GSA, and MIT allowed the event to run smoothly and serve as an example of the innovative future that the Volpe Center holds.