Planning / Policy / System Information
Mission Statement
The Research Transportation Planning Program, in partnership with others, maintains a clear, open and equitable process with an interdisciplinary approach to decision making while accommodating a wide diversity of perspectives. We provide information (analytical, statistical, social, environmental) to the decision-making process and comply with Federal and State laws, regulations, and mandates.
Contact
- Christine Azevedo
Email: Christine.Azevedo@dot.ca.gov
Themes
Current Research Projects
- MTI
The Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) stresses policy research in distinction to technical research. Research activities are oriented toward improving aspects of the development and operations of the nation’s surface transportation systems, improving transportation decision-making, and ensuring the United States continued global competitiveness. MTI is also committed to ensuring that its research products are of practical, not theoretical. –A value to transportation officials and practitioners.
The areas of emphasis that provide a framework for MTI research projects are as follows:- Safety and security of transportation systems
- Interrelationships among transportation, land use, the environment, and the economy
- Financing of both public and private sector transportation improvements
- Transportation decision-making and consensus building
- Transportation planning and policy development
- Intermodal connectivity and integration
- Sustainability of transportation systems
- Collaborative labor-management issues and strategies
In addition, proposed research should be responsive to the strategic objectives of the U.S. Department of Transportation (Research and Innovative Technology Administration, Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Highway Administration) and Caltrans.
- UCTC
The University of California Transportation Center (UCTC), with financial support from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), invites proposals from University of California faculty for research during the next academic year. Proposals must address the UCTC’s theme, “Transportation Systems Analysis and Policy”. Research may be in any discipline. The Center funds research on surface transportation but will consider proposals on air or maritime transportation topics that have significant surface transportation components. Research is structured to address pressing issues centered on the theme of transportation systems analysis and policy.
- METRANS
The theme of the National Center for Metropolitan Research (METRANS) is transportation within large metropolitan areas. METRANS is developing and examining solutions to the transportation problems of major metropolitan areas using an integrated approach that blends engineering, policy, planning, business administration, and public administration expertise. Within the context of large metropolitan areas, METRANS is addressing national transportation issues such as advance transportation technologies, urban transportation research, transportation infrastructure technologies, intermodal efficiency, and transportation and the environment. METRANS is also a national resource for information on solutions to metropolitan transportation research problems.
The UTC conducts research in four topical areas: goods movement and international trade, urban mobility, infrastructure, and safety and security. All are oriented specifically to metropolitan transportation problems. It addresses many modes: highway (freight and passenger), rail (freight and passenger), bus transit, and non-motorized (pedestrian and bike). METRANS also addresses surface transportation linkages with ports, airports, and inter-modal facilities. It often uses the Los Angeles Region as a laboratory and for education programs reflecting an urban perspective in approach and subject matter.
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