News Archives - Page 3 of 12 - The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Irvine

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.

Originally posted by Carmen+ University Transportation Center

The Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS-Irvine) at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) hosts two programs which expose high school, community college and undergraduate students to the growing field of transportation research. In 2025 the program welcomed a cohort of 10 undergraduate students, six high school students and eight faculty, contributing to 13 ongoing research projects.

Participants are each assigned a research project as well as a UCI mentor whom they work alongside throughout the project. Upon completion of the program, participants present their research at the Emerging Scholars Transportation Research Showcase which provides the students with valuable presentation experience.

“This program is valuable for so many reasons – it makes me dive even deeper into my own work, provides hands-on experience for students and helps me develop mentorship and leadership skills. I’ve learned how to guide students with varying experience levels and break complex research tasks into manageable steps. Above all, I’ve most enjoyed seeing the students grow in confidence and excitement as they contribute meaningful results to the project,” said Shakib Kafashan, a mentor and civil and environmental engineering PhD student at UCI.

ITS-Irvine hosts the Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME) geared towards high school and community college students and Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) intended for UCI undergraduate students. These summer programs engage the participants in transportation research, allowing them to gain real world exposure to the transportation industry. Over the past year the program expanded its recruiting efforts by attending local high school transportation related career and involvement fairs, added remote and hybrid participation options.

Additionally, program participants are presented with a number of opportunities to share their work including two dedicated TRIP/PRIME student presentation seminars, participation in professional and academic event including SCAG annual meeting, CTF educational forum, TRB Annual Meeting and PSR Congress as well as scholarship opportunities.

New marketing initiatives have also been added this year to increase awareness of the PRIME and TRIP programs as well as local and high school stakeholder involvement. A spotlight series has also been launched to celebrate successes of program faculty, grad students and alums.

The experience that students gain in both the PRIME and TRIP programs carry through as they continue on in their education. Last year, all PRIME high school graduates enrolled in post-secondary educational institutions and all TRIP undergraduate alumni accepted graduate school or STEM-related employment offers within two months of graduation. Additionally:

Four TRIP alumni completed graduate degrees in STEM-related fields and/or accepted STEM-related employment offers in the public and private sector.
Seven TRIP alumni were involved in or completed internships at transportation-related firms or agencies.
Three TRIP alumni received transportation-related scholarships from external (to UCI) sources
Three TRIP alumni were hired to their TRIP research projects after completion of the program.
Three TRIP/PRIME alumni were noted as either secondary authors or formal contributors to published research
Two TRIP alumni were hired to contribute to written formal proceedings of TRB transportation conference presentations

“I enjoy working with my mentors, learning about research careers, and having the freedom to design my own product while still working as part of a larger group and solving a larger issue. I particularly appreciated the collaborative culture, getting to work with lots of different people,” said Aaryan Boreddy, a rising senior at Dublin High School.

Douglas Houston, Gregg P. Macey, Jeannine M. Pearce, Catherine Garoupa
Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Irvine

Disparities in exposure to roadway hazards (e.g., pollution, noise) remain stubbornly persistent due to structural inequalities embedded in the built environment. Research has consistently documented racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in traffic exposures nationwide, including heightened exposure to heavy-duty truck traffic, a significant source of noise and pollution. Such disparities also exist in the provision of sidewalks, bike lanes, and street trees, which can help mitigate roadway dust, noise, and pollution and can increase pedestrian safety, encourage walking and cycling, and provide health benefits. These environmental injustices are tied to historic patterns of racial segregation and disinvestment. Traditional public engagement methods have largely failed to address these inequities.

At ITS-Irvine, our faculty are committed to advancing equity in transportation systems through community-engaged research. In this study, Dr. Douglas Houston, along with Gregg P. Macey, Jeannine M. Pearce, and Catherine Garoupa, evaluated the use of Community Steering Committees (CSCs) as an alternative engagement model in three AB 617-designated communities in California’s San Joaquin Valley—Stockton, South Central Fresno, and Arvin/Lamont. Through interviews and case study analysis, the research examined how residents and community leaders prioritized and implemented three local strategies to reduce roadway hazards: vegetative barriers, expanded sidewalk infrastructure, and revised truck routes.

Key Research Findings

AB 617 Community Steering Committees (CSCs) expanded resident participation in decision-making.
Resident frustration was common.
Community-identified strategies were often delayed.
Community-identified strategies were often implemented as short-term demonstration projects.

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.”

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.