A US$2.1m project to expand the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in California has been completed. Construction of a 2.2-mile oval test track, a one-mile city course and two large vehicle dynamics areas has transformed a portion of the former Castle Air Force Base into a fully equipped automotive testing facility.
With these latest developments – phase one of a long-term expansion plan – TRC California says it can now offer vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and innovators a range of specialized test facilities that replicate real-world highway, rural and urban driving scenarios. These improvements enable the safe testing and refinement of autonomous vehicle technologies and other advanced vehicle systems.
Construction of the 90ha site began in May 2021 when Merced County officials entered into a long-term management agreement for the facility with TRC, an Ohio-based leader in automotive testing and innovation.
Brett Roubinek, president and CEO of TRC, commented, “This is just the beginning of our plans to partner with Merced County in transforming TRC California to become a comprehensive, one-stop shop for automotive technology and mobility innovators. With its close proximity to Silicon Valley, the San Francisco Bay area and all of the West Coast’s technology centers, TRC California is fast becoming the go-to site for transportation innovators to test and affirm their world-changing technologies.”