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Message From The Director
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| CTS
Director Lester
A. Hoel |
Since the late 1940s, the University
of Virginia’s
School of Engineering and Applied Science has
had an ongoing partnership with the Virginia Transportation
Research Council of the Virginia Department of
Transportation. As a result, expertise in transportation
research and education soon became a distinguishing
feature of the Department of Civil Engineering.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s new faculty
were added to the program and the transportation
group expanded its research to include organizations
such as the U.S. DOT, NSF and others. The Surface
Transportation Act of 1987, which called for the
nationwide establishment of university transportation
centers, marked a significant evolution of the
program. During the 1990s, under the leadership
of our first Director, Michael J. Demetsky, the
Center emerged as one of the foremost sites for
research dealing with information technology, transportation
planning, management, and policy.
Today the Center oversees a comprehensive transportation
program that includes education, research, and
public service. Our faculty is highly regarded
both as scholars and as researchers. They are valued
for their dedication to the education of their
students, their willingness to take on new and
complex challenges in research, and for their active
roles in professional societies and research organizations.
Thanks to our longstanding ties with such organizations
as Virginia Transportation Research Council,
the Mid-Atlantic Universities Transportation
Center. the Federal Highway Administration, and
the National Institute of Justice, we now offer
a comprehensive research program, covering areas
such as intelligent transportation systems, transportation
planning and logistics, traffic simulation, highway
safety, transportation pavements, and freight and traffic operations.
Expertise in transportation research and education
has been a long-standing tradition at the University
of Virginia. Today, the Center for Transportation
Studies works closely with state, regional, and
federal organizations on projects that enhance
the efficiency of our transportation infrastructure
and improve the safety of those who rely on it.
Our goal has always been to conduct innovative
research with actionable results in a wide range
of transportation areas. Our focus on implementation
and the expansion of knowledge is a hallmark of
our education program.
The foundation for the center is our productive,
dedicated faculty. Together, they have attracted
a group of outstanding graduate students. We
are also proud of our research facilities including
the Smart Travel Laboratory. We believe that
it is a leading facility of its kind in the nation.
I invite you to learn more about the history of
transportation studies at the University of Virginia,
our faculty and facilities, our research partners,
and the many initiatives in research, education,
and outreach that are ongoing at the center. If
you have any questions about the center please
don’t hesitate to contact any of our staff
or faculty.
Lester A. Hoel
Director, Center for Transportation Studies, and
L.A. Lacy Distinguished Professor of Engineering
University of Virginia |
