ORONO, Maine (AP) — The federal government is giving the University of Maine more than $5 million toward a center that will work on more durable transportation infrastructure.

The money from the U.S. Department of Transportation will help the University of Maine Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center. The DOT picked UMaine to lead the newly created University Transportation Center in 2018.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, said the funding will “foster UMaine’s important research to build more durable bridges, roads and rail lines.” She said the center will ultimately save taxpayers money by improving transportation systems around the country.

The University Transportation Center is a coalition of six New England universities that is led by UMaine.

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