Texas Transportation Institute
Encyclopedia
The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) in College Station, Texas
is the largest transportation research agency in the United States. Created in 1950, primarily in response to the needs of the Texas Highway Department (now the Texas Department of Transportation
), TTI has since broadened its focus to address all modes of transportation–highway, air, water, rail and pipeline. TTI is a state agency and a member of the Texas A&M University System
. TTI’s cooperative relationship with the Texas Department of Transportation has helped the Institute develop and implement work for numerous other sponsors.
TTI researchers participate in and lead over 250 local, state and national organizations. Approximately 100 TTI researchers publish papers and give presentations at the Transportation Research Board
(TRB) annual meeting, with around 40 serving on TRB committees. Since the inception of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) over 40 years ago, TTI has led over 70 NCHRP projects, more than any other participant in the program. TTI researchers serve as objective transportation experts, providing an important resource to local, state and national agencies and groups.
The Institute maintains a close association with the Texas A&M University
Dwight Look College of Engineering
, the College of Architecture
, and the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, as well as other academic units within the Texas A&M University System and at other collaborating universities. Over 40 TTI researchers hold joint academic positions at Texas A&M University. The Center for Professional Development and other TTI programs continuously create and present a variety of workshops. TTI also plays a role in training and educating students. One-third of the staff is students.
Headquartered on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas
, TTI also maintains a full-service safety proving ground facility in Bryan, Texas
, and has offices in Arlington, Dallas, Austin, El Paso, San Antonio and Houston. As part of its research program, TTI also operates 12 formal centers of excellence.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – GPR is a nondestructive geophysical method that “sees” underground and produces a record of subsurface features—without drilling, probing, digging, or coring. Since 1988, researchers at TTI have been developing, testing, and implementing GPR technology for TxDOT to use in its road repair and maintenance activities.
Roadway Congestion Index (RCI) – To evaluate mobility levels on Texas streets and freeways, TTI developed the RCI, which is now computed annually for over 85 major U.S. cities.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) – TTI’s ITS research has been implemented in several major Texas cities. Real-time train detection and analysis systems have expedited emergency vehicle dispatch, enhanced signal operations, and averted major accidents.
HOV Lanes and Managed Lanes – Since the 1980s, many major metropolitan areas have developed HOV or High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to help with traffic flow and provide incentives for carpooling and public transit. TTI has become known as the nation’s leader in HOV lane research. Some cities have taken the HOV lane concept one step further in the development of what’s being called Managed Lanes.
Teens in the Driver Seat – TTI has developed a peer-to-peer driving safety program unlike any safety program in the nation. Teens in the Driver Seat relies on young drivers themselves to create safety messages and then serve as the messengers to make their peers aware of the risks of teen driving.
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
is the largest transportation research agency in the United States. Created in 1950, primarily in response to the needs of the Texas Highway Department (now the Texas Department of Transportation
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
), TTI has since broadened its focus to address all modes of transportation–highway, air, water, rail and pipeline. TTI is a state agency and a member of the Texas A&M University System
Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the United States. Through a statewide network of eleven universities, eight state agencies and a comprehensive health science center, the Texas A&M System educates over 100,000 students, conducts more than $600...
. TTI’s cooperative relationship with the Texas Department of Transportation has helped the Institute develop and implement work for numerous other sponsors.
TTI researchers participate in and lead over 250 local, state and national organizations. Approximately 100 TTI researchers publish papers and give presentations at the Transportation Research Board
Transportation Research Board
The Transportation Research Board is a division of the National Research Council, which serves as an independent adviser to the President, the Congress and federal agencies on scientific and technical questions of national importance...
(TRB) annual meeting, with around 40 serving on TRB committees. Since the inception of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) over 40 years ago, TTI has led over 70 NCHRP projects, more than any other participant in the program. TTI researchers serve as objective transportation experts, providing an important resource to local, state and national agencies and groups.
The Institute maintains a close association with the Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
Dwight Look College of Engineering
Dwight Look College of Engineering
The Dwight Look College of Engineering is the engineering school of Texas A&M University in College Station and is home to more than 10,700 engineering students in 12 departments....
, the College of Architecture
Texas A&M College of Architecture
Texas A&M College of Architecture is a college of Texas A&M University at College Station.With over 1,800 students, the college is one of the largest architectural colleges in the nation. Established in 1905, Texas A&M's architecture program is the oldest in Texas...
, and the George Bush School of Government and Public Service, as well as other academic units within the Texas A&M University System and at other collaborating universities. Over 40 TTI researchers hold joint academic positions at Texas A&M University. The Center for Professional Development and other TTI programs continuously create and present a variety of workshops. TTI also plays a role in training and educating students. One-third of the staff is students.
Headquartered on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
, TTI also maintains a full-service safety proving ground facility in Bryan, Texas
Bryan, Texas
Bryan is a city in Brazos County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 76,201. It is the county seat of Brazos County and is located in the heart of the Brazos Valley . It shares its border with the city of College Station, which lies to its south...
, and has offices in Arlington, Dallas, Austin, El Paso, San Antonio and Houston. As part of its research program, TTI also operates 12 formal centers of excellence.
Research results
ET2000 – In 1991, the TTI-patented ET2000 guardrail end treatment was developed. Over 250,000 units have been shipped throughout the United States and around the world. TxDOT and TTI received the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) 1991 Administrator’s Biennial Safety Award for their development of the ET2000.Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) – GPR is a nondestructive geophysical method that “sees” underground and produces a record of subsurface features—without drilling, probing, digging, or coring. Since 1988, researchers at TTI have been developing, testing, and implementing GPR technology for TxDOT to use in its road repair and maintenance activities.
Roadway Congestion Index (RCI) – To evaluate mobility levels on Texas streets and freeways, TTI developed the RCI, which is now computed annually for over 85 major U.S. cities.
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) – TTI’s ITS research has been implemented in several major Texas cities. Real-time train detection and analysis systems have expedited emergency vehicle dispatch, enhanced signal operations, and averted major accidents.
HOV Lanes and Managed Lanes – Since the 1980s, many major metropolitan areas have developed HOV or High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to help with traffic flow and provide incentives for carpooling and public transit. TTI has become known as the nation’s leader in HOV lane research. Some cities have taken the HOV lane concept one step further in the development of what’s being called Managed Lanes.
Teens in the Driver Seat – TTI has developed a peer-to-peer driving safety program unlike any safety program in the nation. Teens in the Driver Seat relies on young drivers themselves to create safety messages and then serve as the messengers to make their peers aware of the risks of teen driving.
External links
- Texas Transportation Institute
- Texas Department of Transportation
- Texas A&M University
- Texas A&M University System
- Transportation Research Board
- National Cooperative Highway Research Program
- Texas A&M University Dwight Look College of Engineering
- College of Architecture
- George Bush School of Government and Public Service
- Teens in the Driver Seat