COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio continues to grow with automotive innovation in recent years, and an upgrade to an automobile testing site could place Ohio on the map.
The Transportation Research Center in East Liberty has been working with global auto manufacturers to test their research for years. Now, it’s getting ready for an expansion that would improve safety on the road with help from the capital budget.
What You Need To Know
- $24 million from the One-Time-Strategic Investment Fund, and an additional $1m was approved in the capital budget to go toward a new impact lab to ground test trucks, buses, cars, electric and autonomous vehicles
- Upgraded features in the new lab would include robotic cameras, sensors and other technology used for impact collision scenarios
- The new lab won't open until at least the spring of 2026
The $24 million was set aside by the legislature from the One-time Strategic fund, and the capital budget to go toward The Transportation Research Center, Inc’s new impact lab. The test center broke ground on a new 66,000 square foot impact lab to help with transportation safety.
When it is complete, it would be added to the Transportation Center’s existing Impact Lab to improve tests. It would ground test trucks, buses, cars and other autonomous vehicles. It is something that Marysville State Representative Tracy Richardson helped pave the way, working with the legislature to put the dollars aside from the budget.
“We’re driving success right here in Union, and Logan Counties with TRC,” said Richardson. “And, what the transportation research lab is doing and will continue to do with its improvements is to really transform and innovate the safety of our vehicles and our roadways.”
The new Impact Lab would test cars, trucks and buses with the latest technology, which includes cameras, sensors and other technology needed to test collision scenarios. The Chair of the Finance Committee State Representative Jay Edwards believes transportation continues to evolve, and Ohio’s growth depends on transformational growth in the economic welfare of our state.
“We’re sending a message to people working in research and innovation across the country that if you want to do business,” Edwards said. “The state of Ohio is going to be a great place to come and do business. And we’re open to attract more talent around the state.”
The transportation Research Center, Inc is a nonprofit that provides performance tests, and helps brings in new designs while experienced engineers work on projects, and. test durability.
“As we look to the future,” said Brett Roubinek, the CEO of Transportation Research Center, Inc. “New toolsets are needed for the solutions required for tomorrow’s technologies.”
“We have companies from all over the world that come here to test their equipment,” said Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, (R-Ohio). “And brings in jobs, and investment. It also puts Ohio on the map as one of the leaders in automation, automotive research.”
The lab will not be open until spring of 2026. Right now, the East Liberty campus of TRC operates with 500 engineers and other specialists around the clock to conduct tests.