News Archives - The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Irvine

Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Irvine

At ITS-Irvine, researchers are pioneering innovative methods that balance the power of data with the need to protect individual privacy. In this study, Dr. Wen-Long Jin and Joseph Lo explores how a “bathtub model” can serve as a privacy-preserving alternative to traditional traffic data collection. Transportation agencies depend on detailed trip data to improve roads and transit systems, yet conventional and “big data” methods often track travelers’ movements with concerning precision—raising ethical and legal challenges under growing privacy regulations.

The bathtub model offers a fresh, system-level approach that captures the overall flow of trips across a network without identifying individual travelers. By representing travel based on the remaining distance rather than specific routes, the model enables meaningful insights into network performance while keeping personal data anonymous. This work demonstrates that it’s possible to advance transportation planning and analytics without compromising public trust or individual privacy.

Key Research Findings

The bathtub model effectively captures network traffic dynamics while preserving traveler privacy
The bathtub model was successfully validated using public bike-sharing data
Computational needs are low, enabling rapid assessments

Author: Wenlong Jin

Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Irvine

At ITS-Irvine, researchers are advancing the science of automated vehicle safety to ensure a smoother transition toward mixed human-autonomous traffic. In this study, Dr. Wenlong Jin addresses a critical gap in how automated vehicles (AVs) interpret and respond to real-world driving conditions. Current car-following models often fail to mimic the nuanced braking and spacing behaviors of human drivers, leading to potential safety and traffic-flow issues—especially at intersections designed for human decision-making.

To overcome this challenge, Dr. Wenlong Jin developed a multi-phase projection-based model that allows AVs to anticipate future braking scenarios rather than simply react to present conditions. This approach produces driving patterns that are both safer and more human-like, reducing the likelihood of “dilemma zones” and improving coordination between AVs and traditional vehicles. The work provides an essential step toward ensuring that automated vehicles can coexist harmoniously with human drivers and the infrastructure shaping California’s transportation future.

Key Research Findings

Standard car-following models have significant limitations in maintaining safe distances between vehicles in everyday driving situations
Human drivers are able to anticipate when other vehicles may brake, but existing car-following models fail to adequately do this
Our car-following model mathematically guarantees safety while exhibiting human-like behavior
The model can be readily installed in AV systems

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight student researcher, Miles Shaffie, for his involvement in the 2025 Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME).

As a Senior at Dana Hills High School, Miles supports his passion for civil engineering and transportation with a strong academic foundation in math and science in addition to active involvement in AP and honors coursework.

“I’ve always known that I have a curious mind, questioning the way things work… it’s through experiences like these that allow me to better shape my path in the engineering world.”

As a PRIME participant, Miles assisted with research fueling the LA Metro “28 by 28” Railway Expansion Project. In addition to building his public speaking skillset, PRIME helped Miles gain experience in real-world data collection and analysis within an academic setting.

“The data collection and analysis skills help in the research I conduct for my own construction projects… Having opportunities to present throughout this project has given me added confidence that I will carry over to my future college and career endeavors.”

With the supportive leadership of faculty researcher Dr. Elisa Borowski and graduate student Montana Reinoehl, Miles learned the importance of community and guidance when searching for solutions to transportation projects.

“I really felt a sense of community in this team. I knew that if I had any questions or needed advice I could turn to them.”

The experience Miles gained over the summer prepares him for a career full of meaningful impacts on infrastructure. Inspired by a recent trip to Costa Rica, Miles approaches transportation with a global perspective. He hopes one day his research can contribute to improving transportation systems in developing countries.

“I visited Costa Rica and noticed the road system is drastically underdeveloped… I would love to find opportunities to help innovate their infrastructure because it is a beautiful country with amazing people.”

Miles is a testament to the impact of early exposure to research and mentorship within the field of engineering. Opportunities for collaboration, such as PRIME, empower students to envision a more connected future.

“This program showed me that engineers have a monumental impact, and I am grateful for my trajectory to join this community.”

Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs undergraduate and high school student researchers with faculty to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects. To learn more about these programs, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and engagement Dr. Victoria Valentine Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight former TRIP participant, Sara L., for her new position at NTT DATA. At NTT DATA, Sara will work as an Associate Data Engineer, joining a graduate team delivering technical consulting across multiple industries. Sara’s background in mathematics and her computational skillset has prepared her for real-world problem solving, both within and beyond transportation and infrastructure challenges.

“I’m excited to work toward getting a doctorate in engineering that allows me to apply my math and data science experience.”

As an undergraduate researcher, Sara focused on prompt engineering for traffic signal warrant analysis, aiming to enhance efficiency and accuracy in traffic engineering workflows. In the process, Sara created a Python framework to test and evaluate large language models (LLMs) using traffic data. From her efforts, Sara discovered performance gaps in LLMs when applied to engineering-specific tasks and developed targeted recommendations for improvement. In January 2025, Sara presented these recommendations amongst many other findings at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 104th Annual Meeting.
Sara’s new role at NTT DATA will expose her to a diverse array of innovation across many sectors including transportation, finance, and technology.

“NTT DATA explores a lot of different industries, and I’m excited to explore how my skills are transferrable across industries. At an international company, I will be able to learn about what the process is like across cultures and learn about their unique perspective.”

Sara’s career journey is an inspiration to current TRIP/ PRIME participants who are looking to improve the future through interdisciplinary learning and curiosity. She encourages others to open themselves up to opportunities, even when the path may seem uncertain.

“Don’t let failure or unexpected circumstances get to you! Sometimes there’s something better on the other side.”.

Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs undergraduate and high school student researchers with faculty to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects. To learn more about these programs, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and engagement Dr. Victoria Valentine Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight Dr. Dominic Bednar for their contributions to a sustainable tomorrow. Dr. Bednar is many things—an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology, a leader in energy justice, an innovative researcher—but most importantly they’re community-centric.

One of Dr. Bednar’s first communities began at the University of Maryland where they majored in Civil Engineering and minored in Sustainability Studies. During this time, Dr. Bednar’s interest in environmental justice and energy poverty took root, eventually guiding them to the University of Michigan. There, Dr. Bednar earned a Masters in Sustainable Systems and a Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability. Since then, Dr. Bednar’s interdisciplinary background has informed three years of people-oriented transportation research. Their hopes for the future of transportation challenge the equity gap exacerbated by the single-person vehicle.

“My vision is a transit system that transforms how we move and transforms the world around us…I hope for a future where transportation is nearly free or universally accessible, where you can get where you need to go with your own two feet or whatever mobility you require.”

Currently, Dr. Bednar’s research examines Los Angeles and Atlanta, two cities that experience some of the highest levels of traffic and car dependency in the world. In addition to determining what contributes to car-dependency, Dr. Bednar’s project will also engage community members in thinking sessions to reimagine the future of transportation.

“If I’m going to do this job any justice, I feel like doing it on behalf of the people is really what is important to me. No matter how expert of a team I put together, it won’t be that expert unless it includes folks on the front lines.”

When Dr. Bednar isn’t expanding the field of energy justice research, they’re building a global network. They’re a leader in policy as a member of the Black Hive for the Black Lives Movement and the Co-founder of Black in Environment, two organizations that prioritize environmental and racial justice. They’re a DJ, a sonic artist, an avid traveler, and an outdoor enthusiast. It’d be easier to list everything Dr. Bednar isn’t, then everything they are.

“If we don’t take our joy and our pleasure and our excitement for ourselves, there will be no time for it. Traveling, music, and language learning are just as much part of my practice as research—they keep me balanced and connected.”

Dr. Bednar’s accomplishments stem from their connection to community. Their contributions to the Institute of Transportation Studies is fueled by a desire to provide others with the same opportunity.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight former student researcher Preston Wong for his contributions to the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and his dedication to advancing the transportation systems of tomorrow.

Preston joined the Institute of Transportation Studies as an undergraduate in 2023 while earning his B.A. in Social Policy and Public Service. Preston’s interest in social welfare provided him with a unique lens to explore community-related issues at the intersection of housing and transportation. As a student researcher, Preston applied his knowledge to community resilience hubs and transit access disparities during disasters like wildfires and COVID-19.

“It really opened my eyes… there’s a revolving door between research and practice in our field. TRIP helped me see that.”

After completing TRIP, Preston felt prepared to enter professional positions in highly collaborative environments. For one of his first high-impact roles, Preston assisted with securing $100 million in competitive grant funding to develop the BART to Silicon Valley Phase II Project.

“We wrote two grant applications for a $13 billion project. It felt impactful because it was mostly me and a small team doing the main writing… It’s really on-the-job learning. Joining ITS helped me learn a bit more about the field.”

Today, Preston applies his on-the-job learning approach to his current role at Drago Vantage as a Transportation Planner. Although he never anticipated a career in transportation, Preston’s experiences are full of satisfaction and worthwhile lessons. When asked what advice he may have for students curious about TRIP, Preston encouraged them to embrace opportunities whenever they’re offered.

“Don’t feel underqualified… we’re all just trying to figure things out. Just go for it and learn as much as you can. Some days are better than others, but overall, I feel pretty satisfied knowing I contributed.”

Author Erin Boshers is a recent graduate of Urban Studies and Literary Journalism at UC Irvine. She has conducted transportation and housing research through roles at Caltrans, the Kennedy Commission, Jamboree Housing, and the Institute of Transportation Studies.

Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs undergraduate and high school student researchers with faculty to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects. To learn more about these programs, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and engagement Dr. Victoria Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.

Farzana Khatun, PhD; Jean-Daniel Saphores, PhD.
Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Irvine

Bus ridership in many U.S. cities has declined over the past decade, and understanding the causes is vital for improving public transit systems. In Orange County, factors like poor service quality, low connectivity, competition from ride-hailing services, and changing socioeconomic conditions have all been cited as potential contributors. One lesser-explored factor is the implementation of Assembly Bill 60 (AB 60) in 2015, which allowed undocumented residents in California to obtain driver’s licenses.

At ITS-Irvine, our faculty are advancing transportation policy research by identifying how legislation and social trends affect transit behavior. In this study, Dr. Farzana Khatun and Dr. Jean-Daniel Saphores analyzed whether the introduction of AB 60 contributed to declines in OCTA bus ridership. Using route-level panel regression models and ridership data from 2014–2016, they found that local and community routes experienced significant ridership declines—up to 7.7% in Fall 2015–16—after AB 60 was implemented. The findings suggest that expanded access to driver’s licenses may have encouraged a shift away from public transit. To address these trends, the authors recommend that OCTA explore service adjustments, increased frequency, and free or discounted fare programs.

Key Research Findings:

Gasoline prices also impacted bus boardings.
After the implementation of AB 60, bus boardings decreased more than before.
Route frequency did not matter in 2014-2016.
Rail vehicle revenue hours (VRH) and peak hour frequency had a significant impact on bus boardings on local and community routes.

Authors: Khatun, Farzana, PhD; Saphores, Jean-Daniel, PhD.

Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Irvine

Key Research Findings:

After the implementation of AB 60, bus boardings decreased more than before.
Route frequency did not matter in 2014-2016.
Rail vehicle revenue hours (VRH) and peak hour frequency had a significant impact on bus boardings on local and community routes.
Gasoline prices also impacted bus boardings.

Stay connected with ITS-Irvine for more insights on mobility innovation. To learn more, read the policy brief or explore the full report here.

ITS researcher Dr. Virginia Parks was recently featured on The UC Irvine Podcast to discuss the past, present, and future of labor in the U.S.

Dr. Parks is a professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy at UC Irvine, researching the shifting landscapes of economic development in the 21st century. Her expertise contextualizes the recent decline in job openings amid economic uncertainty from trade disputes, interest rate hikes, and the creation of new technologies.

Dr. Parks reminds listeners of the importance of place and how local economies shape people’s livelihoods. Transportation plays a key role in providing communities with connections to opportunity. Job creation, therefore, is dependent in many ways upon how we prioritize access when planning cities.

“Transportation is a central feature of our everyday lives, yet we often don’t think about the planning that goes into how we get around—and the planning needed to make getting around easier, more equitable, and less harmful for the climate.”

Dr. Parks encourages researchers to always consider the broader context. Advancing transportation is inextricably linked to addressing issues regarding equity, labor, and climate change. Creating sustainable systems begins with empowering students to consider how planning and policy can address the gaps in their communities.

“We need bright, energetic students to join the ranks of urban policy makers, urban planners, and transportation experts.”

To learn more about the impact planning and policy has on our livelihoods, listen here.

ITS researcher Sarah L. Catz was recently featured in WalletHub’s article, Cheap SR-22 Insurance, where she shared her expert insights on insurance-related topics. You can read the full article here.