The City of Tyler is investing in smarter infrastructure by tapping into one of the community's greatest assets, local talent. Through a new partnership with the University of Texas at Tyler, the City is connecting classroom learning with community needs to build safer and smarter transportation systems.

On Wednesday, Jan. 28, the City of Tyler and University of Texas at Tyler Department of Civil and Construction Engineering and Management formally established a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen infrastructure planning, transportation systems and real-world learning opportunities in Tyler.

"This will help us bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application," said City Engineer Cameron Williams. "Over the past few years, we've welcomed five UT Tyler interns who worked side by side with our Traffic Engineering Department, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to meaningful projects that serve our community."

Key areas of collaboration include infrastructure assessments, traffic flow modeling and analysis, smart transportation and intelligent traffic systems, and sustainable approaches to pavement design and maintenance. The partnership also emphasizes student engagement, offering UT Tyler students hands-on opportunities to contribute to City projects while gaining real-world experience in civil engineering and transportation planning.

"We hope this collaboration helps students build meaningful connections to the community where they're studying," said Williams. "These opportunities show students they don't have to leave Tyler to build successful engineering careers, which helps keep local talent right here after graduation."

By working together, the City and UT Tyler aim to advance a transportation network that is safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for residents today and into the future. The collaboration also supports workforce development by preparing the next generation of engineers to tackle real challenges in the community they live.

The MOU reflects a shared commitment to innovation, education, and community impact, positioning Tyler as a city that values collaboration and forward-thinking solutions to meet growing infrastructure needs.