Mineta Transportation Institute selected to lead California State University SB 1 research consortium

The California State University Transportation Consortium (CSUTC), led by the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San José State University, has been selected to conduct and oversee research to address California’s traffic and transportation problems under Senate Bill 1.

CSUTC unifies and focuses the efforts of four outstanding CSU campuses that represent and support the geographical, cultural, racial, and socioeconomic diversity that makes California, and the CSU system, strong:

1. CSU Chico – California Pavement Preservation Center;

2. CSU Fresno – Fresno State Transportation Institute;

3. CSU Long Beach – Center for International Trade and Transportation / College of Engineering; and

4. San José State University–Mineta Transportation Institute.

San José State University (SJSU) and CSU Long Beach (CSULB) are located in large, metropolitan regions in Northern and Southern California, respectively. Both regions
are diverse and face significant transportation mobility challenges, particularly as they relate to congestion and efficient movement of people and goods. The 450-mile long Central Valley mega-region, with CSU Fresno in the central and CSU Chico in the north, faces a number of transportation-related challenges, including pressure on sagging infrastructure and a need to develop a more robust public transit system.

Under Senate Bill 1, the California Legislature budgeted up to $2 million annually to the CSU system to conduct transportation research, training, and workforce development. SJSU/MTI will receive and administer the funding, directing a competitive CSU-wide process to identify specific research projects aligned with SB 1 priorities.

"We are honored and delighted to be selected as the lead transportation research center and to administer funds provided to the CSU by SB 1," Dr. Karen Philbrick, MTI’s Executive Director said. “MTI's focus on providing access to equitable, affordable and sustainable surface transportation through the highest quality research aligns well with the legislation's vision for accountability in ensuring the best possible use of these resources. We look forward to collaborating with other CSU research entities on such impactful work.”

MTI brings over two decades of experience administering large-scale research grants and contracts to the CSUTC partnership. Consortium partners bring an outstanding record of state, national, and international leadership, and success in advancing research and delivering high-quality workforce development programs. CSUTC is well positioned to assert state and national leadership in advancing transportation policy and generating solutions to improve the mobility of people and goods in California.

ABOUT THE MINETA TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE

At the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) at San Jose State University (SJSU) our mission is to increase mobility for all by improving the safety, efficiency, accessibility, and convenience of our nation's’ transportation system through research, education, workforce development and technology transfer. We help create a connected world.

MTI was founded in 1991 and is funded through the US Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security, the California Department of Transportation, and public and private grants. MTI is affiliated with SJSU’s Lucas College and Graduate School of Business.

Contact:
Hilary Nixon, Ph.D.
MTI Director of Research and Technology Transfer 408.924.7564
hilary.nixon@sjsu.edu