News Archives - Page 2 of 11 - The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Irvine

ITS Researcher Dr. Michael Hyland was recently featured by The Verge regarding the repeated presence of parked Waymos in LA. Waymo’s self-driving taxis first debuted in LA during 2024. Since then, community members have complained about the frequency of fully automated vehicles occupying their limited street parking spaces.

Residents have theorized various causes driving the uptick including “proximity to high-traffic areas, central locations, a lack of parking restrictions, ample curb space.” However, none of these causes accounts for Waymo’s consistent parking choices.

In an attempt to analyze these choices, Waymo is participating in an ongoing study by UC Berkeley and UC Irvine. The study uses hypothetical data to understand the impact Waymo’s street parking behavior has on wait times and curb/ road congestion. Dr. Michael Hyland, UC Irvine’s principal researcher, reported that “street parking reduces wait times and road congestion… Although it does, obviously, take up more parking spots.”

To learn more about the study and what the future of AV parking entails, access The Verge article here.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight faculty researcher Dr. Wenlong Jin for his contributions to the Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME) and his dedication to advancing the future of automated transportation.

At ITS, Dr. Jin approaches real-world transportation challenges with rigorous mathematical modeling. His methodology strikes a balance between the technical and human-centered systems that comprise transportation.

“I really like transportation because it sits at the intersection of engineering, economics, sociology, and planning. In many ways, it’s a mirror of society itself.”

Currently, Dr. Jin’s research centers on automated vehicle safety. In a two-part study released this year, Dr. Jin explored Provably Safe and Human-Like Car-Following Behaviors. In addition to identifying the limitations in existing car-following models (including safety issues in particular scenarios), Dr. Jin’s study develops a new multi-phase, projection-based model for automated vehicles (AVs). This model combines provable safety with human-like driving, a crucial aspect of road sharing between AVs and human drivers.

“Without the human-like element, automated cars could be too aggressive or too timid. Either way, it creates surprises for human drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians—and that’s where safety issues arise.”

This summer, Dr. Jin led high school student, Alex Wang, in the 2025 PRIME program with the support of PhD student Jooneui Hong. Their project focused on a data-driven analysis of HOV-to-HOT lane conversions, examining impacts on general-purpose lane users and equity. Dr. Jin’s mentorship is a part of his deep commitment to giving young researchers hands-on exposure to data analysis and real-world transportation questions.

“My goal was to pair Alex with a PhD student so he could experience what cutting-edge research looks like at a university. It’s about more than data—it’s about learning how to ask the right questions.”

Dr. Jin hopes the future of transportation is safer, more efficient, more equitable, and a pathway to better understanding human behaviors. Through his mathematical models, Dr. Jin is formalizing safety, efficiency, and fairness so that we may test the assumptions behind our systems before putting them into the real world.

“Transportation is a reflection of humanity. If we can design safer and fairer systems here, maybe we can learn something about improving society as a whole.”

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.

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

During her time at ITS, Jennifer worked under Professor Elisa Borowski on a project titled Visualization and Synthesis of CBO-Managed Accessibility Data. Her role focused on analyzing and mapping transportation accessibility data managed by community-based organizations (CBOs), with the goal of making equity-focused transportation data more usable for policymakers and advocates. The project deepened her interest in how local knowledge and community-led data collection can shape more just and inclusive transportation systems.

Today, Jennifer is applying to graduate school as a prospective student in a dual Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program. She aims to develop interdisciplinary expertise that allows her to advance equitable, sustainable infrastructure and public health systems to serve the greater Southern California region. Her end goal is to work at the intersection of environmental health, transportation policy, and urban planning to drive systemic change through research, policy, and advocacy.

Jennifer’s research interests lie at the intersection of environmental health, transportation equity, and regional planning. She’s especially interested in how infrastructure decisions impact air quality, mobility, and public health outcomes in Southern California. She also focuses on the role of data visualization and community-based research in shaping policies that promote accessible, low-emission transportation systems. Ultimately, she’s passionate about using interdisciplinary methods to support healthier, more resilient communities across the region.

She hopes one day extended public transportation systems and walkable neighborhoods are the norm in Southern California—not the exception. Reliable, accessible transit and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure can transform communities, reducing emissions, improving public health, and fostering greater social and economic mobility. Especially in regions like Southern California, she envisions a transportation future that prioritizes sustainability, equity, and connectivity for all residents.

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Reina Kabbara for her contributions to the 2025 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Reina is a Public Health Policy major with a minor in Health Informatics at UC Irvine. There, Reina’s coursework spans urban planning and policy, health data analytics, and public health communications. Her interest in transportation stems from a desire to reduce health disparities exacerbated by lack of access and displacement.

“I was excited for the opportunity to connect the ideas and research I have done through my Public Health Policy major here at UCI to transportation infrastructure and its impact on health equity.”

TRIP encourages students like Reina to explore the overlap of their interdisciplinary studies while conducting research. Working alongside ITS Faculty Dr. Jun Wu, Reina researched transportation infrastructure related contributions to extreme heat and lack of green space. From her research blossomed an interest in shaded transit, equitable greening initiatives, and low-emission mobility. Reina’s concentration on the intersection of transportation systems and public health primes her with real-world solutions to multifaceted problems.

“Many low-income and historically marginalized communities experience higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect… I’m interested in learning how transportation planning can help mitigate the risks these communities face.”

Reina hopes to one day earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree or a Masters in Public Health (MPH). She plans to advocate for systemic reform as a means to protect and empower vulnerable communities. Until then she intends to continue her research under Professor Jun Wu, gaining the technical expertise essential to implement policy reform.

“This program will help me gain essential skills needed in the policy and legal field…so I can work on initiatives that bring real change to low-income and marginalized families.”

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight Melissa Lepe. Melissa is a first-generation, third-year PhD student for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UCI, bridging sustainable aviation and engineering education through her research. Melissa’s passion for equity and student mentorship was most recently recognized by the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

“We often think about technical research and engineering education as two separate things, but really, it’s important to develop diverse engineers who think profoundly about the impact of their work.”

Melissa’s journey began in middle school where she attended a NASA outreach session focused on young girls in STEM. Her interest in engineering grew throughout high school, however the lack of resources and course material available posed significant roadblocks to the future Melissa imagined. With the help of her educators, Melissa chose to study aerospace engineering.

“I didn’t come into aerospace engineering knowing exactly what it entailed—but I grew alongside it, and I’m happy I made that decision.”

After visiting UCI’s Celebration Day as a high schooler, Melissa committed to UCI regardless of other offers. She faced uncertainty as an undergraduate, navigating imposter syndrome as a first-gen Latina in a male-dominated field. During this time, Melissa learned the importance of mentorship and having support systems to reinforce her confidence and commitment to engineering.

“Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear—it just becomes something you learn to manage.”

Having completed her bachelor’s and master’s at UCI, Melissa can now focus on her research interests alongside Dr. Jacqueline Huynh and Dr. Natascha Buswell while pursuing her PhD. Currently, Melissa conducts research in the Aircraft Systems Lab and STREAM Lab, working on aircraft noise abatement and modeling techniques. Additionally, she’s created engineering design modules to support students in mastering tools like MATLAB and SolidWorks. Melissa’s research and community outreach serves as a reminder of the importance of mentorship and representation.

“One person gave me this piece of advice and I think it’s very much true: no matter what facet of life you’re in, you can always be a mentor and you can always look for a mentor. Mentorship has been one of the most pivotal aspects of my own journey and now it’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.”

This summer, Melissa advised students participating in the TRIP/PRIME programs with Dr. Jacqueline Huynh. She views mentorship as a lifelong, mutual process in which she hopes to foster the next generation of Latine engineers.

“Once I was in their shoes and now I get to give back. That’s the part that brings me the most joy. I want students to carry what they learn forward—to apply it in their families, their communities, and become mentors themselves someday.”

Melissa aspires to one day influence both research and student development as a university faculty member. She advocates for a sustainable and accessible future in transportation design, acknowledging that transportation is deeply tied to opportunity especially in regards to education.

“Transportation allows you to get to school, to a hospital—it is the difference between being able to do something or not. It must be accessible to everyone… Engineers must ask: who are we serving, and how do we make what we design benefit the people we intend it for?”

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight faculty researcher Dr. Jun Wu for her contributions to the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and her dedication to a sustainable tomorrow.

In addition to her work as a faculty researcher with the Institute of Transportation Studies, Dr. Wu is a professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health. Outside of the classroom, you can find Dr. Wu at UC Irvine’s Exposure, Epidemiology, and Equity (E3) Environmental Health Lab where she serves as Principal Investigator.

Dr. Wu’s sense of responsibility for the environment bloomed at a young age in China. Her early connection to nature first led her to a career in environmental engineering. Wanting to focus her efforts on prevention rather than remediation, Dr. Wu began studying public health in relation to the environment. Today, Dr. Wu’s research flourishes from the intersection of these disciplines.

“I grew up surrounded by trees, flowers, and fruit. But when I moved to a city, I lived next to a big road filled with traffic and pollution. That disruption shaped my desire to study environmental engineering and later, environmental health.”

This summer for the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP), Dr. Wu is leading a team of undergraduate and graduate researchers, examining extreme heat and lack of green space. Dr. Wu’s TRIP project actively works to build the bridge between environmental health and transportation equity, engaging both experts and emerging researchers.

“I don’t consider myself a transportation person—but I think it’s essential that when we plan transportation systems, we consider their environmental cost and public health impact.”

As the days get hotter in California, Dr. Wu’s research rises in relevance and urgency. By mapping urban heat islands through land surface temperature and gathering a sense of how transportation infrastructure can worsen temperature disparities, Dr. Wu’s research is at the forefront of creating solutions to urban heat exposure.

“Even within Irvine, you’ll see major temperature differences between concrete-heavy areas and tree-shaded ones. Roads absorb heat and generate emissions, trees cool the space down. Our goal is to quantify that and model potential solutions.”

When considering the future of transportation, Dr. Wu encourages students to dream big while still keeping the most vulnerable populations in mind. The cornerstone of Dr. Wu’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to sustainability, equity, and health-conscious solutions.

“I want to see more efficient, accessible public transit. Be open-minded. Think beyond efficiency and convenience—ask how transportation decisions affect people’s health and the environment.”

You can read more on Dr. Wu and her groundbreaking research here.

Author Erin Boshers is a recent graduate of Urban Studies and Literary Journalism at UC Irvine, where she explored the intersection of infrastructure, social behaviors, and public policy. 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) pairs undergraduate student researchers with faculty in paid positions to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects, and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs high school student researchers with faculty in unpaid positions to similarly contribute to these projects. To learn more about these programs, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and Engagement Dr. Victoria Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight Dr. Federico Vaca’s new youth-centered program, Youth Thriving in Life Transitions with Transportation (THRIVE). THRIVE focuses on how transportation impacts the immediate and later health, education, and employment of high school youth, particularly as it relates to safety and independence in driving licensure. THRIVE works to expose youth to a breadth of transportation benefits as well as the tightly coupled responsibilities and need for understanding safety that comes along with young driver licensure. This is of key note given that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for youth ages 15 – 24—all too often a result of alcohol and drug impaired driving, distracted driving, riding with an impaired driver, and even drowsy driving. THRIVE takes a proactive approach to building safer, more equitable communities by exposing young drivers “to-be” and novice young drivers to the impact transportation can have on health, education, employment and access to opportunity.

“Safer young drivers, safer communities altogether. Distraction, impairment, and speed, the big three, are all preventable.”

Dr.Vaca’s work with THRIVE is informed by a career in emergency medicine where he first recognized the great need for youth-focused crash-injury prevention program work and research.

“It was the clinical experiences that really shaped the work I wanted to do—getting beyond the emergency room doors to prevent injuries in the first place.”

As a researcher with the Institute of Transportation Studies and the School of Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Vaca’s work highlights how transportation can improve and preserve a community’s health if planning is human-centric.

“Without humans and their well-being, you won’t have any transit of any sorts… It’s the people driving this whole process. It’s about understanding how transportation affects real lives—from accessing a job to managing asthma.”

THRIVE aims to provide valuable exposure and education in transportation to youth—some of the most vulnerable road users—guiding them to be intentionally mindful of how transportation, individual, and community health are closely woven together.

You can read more about Dr. Vaca’s research as the Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine at UC Irvine here. Additionally, you can listen to how Dr. Vaca’s research explains why teens are driving as much here.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine would like to congratulate TRIP alumni, Casey Chung, for her published research on community spaces. As a UCLA Lewis Center 2025 fellow, Casey Chung evaluated equity and freeway redress across reconnecting communities projects in Pasadena and San Diego. Her capstone report highlights the importance of restorative justice in transportation planning and the need to ensure grant-funded efforts produce equitable outcomes.

Casey’s research stems from her earlier work as an undergraduate researcher at UC Irvine and the Institute of Transportation Studies where she analyzed bikeway infrastructure and the impact of COVID-19 on housing affordability. Her continual research efforts contribute to a UC-wide study on restorative justice that will inform policy interventions ensuring mobility justice and transportation equity.

You can read more about the work Casey is doing to advance the future of transportation here.

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.

ITS Researchers Dr. Michael Hyland and Dr. Michael McNally were recently featured in the Orange County Register for their expert opinion on the Irvine Connect Shuttle System. The Irvine Connect Shuttle was launched as a city-run pilot in 2023, replacing Irvine’s iShuttle services. In July of this year, Irvine Connect added an additional bus and five new stops. Now the city is considering whether or not to expand the shuttle system further.

Dr. Hyland and Dr. McNally advise city planners to first weigh their end goal and whether it aligns with the needs of Irvine residents.

“It seems to me that the city wants to have transit to have transit, maybe some environmental benefits. My perspective is that transit in a place like Irvine is not the best solution for improving sustainability,” he said. “But if the goal is to connect young people, elderly people, people who can’t operate a vehicle to their key destinations, then there really are no better alternatives … which then becomes how much does the city want to spend on serving those trips?” – Dr.Hyland

McNally suggests the city collaborate with pre-existing bus and transit systems operating under OCTA in addition to expanding connections to Metrolink and Amtrak so residents have access to everyday destinations.

“Another option they may not have considered is working on a deal with OCTA where they could subsidize OCTA service in the city, or, for example, subsidize the cost of a bus pass to Irvine residents. People commute in and out of Irvine all the time. If (Irvine Connect) serves only in the city, it probably can’t do that.” – Dr. McNally
You can read further about Irvine’s Connect Shuttle here: https://lnkd.in/g9bedraH

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

Dylan began his journey at UC Irvine where he served as President of the Urban Studies Student Association. While helping other students explore the field of urban planning and policy, Dylan earned his B.A. in Urban Studies with a GIS specialization and a minor in Statistics. As an undergraduate, Dylan held internships at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Jamboree Housing Corporation, and the Institute of Transportation Studies TRIP Program where his passion for transit blossomed.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a planner—let alone a transportation planner—before joining TRIP. Being able to talk about my project with professors after just one summer was a turning point for me.”

During his summer spent with the TRIP program, Dylan researched transportation network companies and equity in public transportation alongside Professor R. (Jay) Jayakrishnan and graduate student Negin Shariat. At the conclusion of the TRIP program, Dylan continued his research, presenting his findings to the Transportation Research Board and the SCAG Student Showcase where he was awarded the 2023 Storymap Jury Award.

“Microtransit was a niche topic I hadn’t expected to be passionate about, but it aligned with everything I cared about: equity, access, and impact.”

After completing the TRIP program and his degree, Dylan received the Dean’s Scholar Award, the Outstanding Urban Studies Student Award, the Outstanding Contribution to the School of Social Ecology Award, the Outstanding Contribution to the Community, and a full-ride scholarship to USC.

Today, Dylan is working towards a Masters of Urban Planning (MUP) at USC with a concentration in transportation and mobility while interning at Fehr & Peers.

“USC’s program is focused on application and skill-building, which is what I was craving after undergrad. My internships helped me learn the job without committing long-term. It’s a great way to grow quickly and get exposure to the field.”

For Dylan, leaving a lasting impact on the world of transportation began with asking questions and seeking out mentorship. Transportation can pave the way towards a more equitable and sustainable future if you’re curious enough to question the built environment around you.

“Even if you feel out of place, ask questions. Everyone starts somewhere—support and curiosity go a long way.”

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.