In 1966 the first transportation studies center was established at PSU. Since then our transportation faculty and staff expertise has grown to worldwide recognition, and expanded to include the multitude of disciplines that inform transportation decision-making: planning, engineering, economics, design, psychology, information technology and more. Our researchers do work locally with the Portland Bureau of Transportation, the Oregon DOT, Metro, TriMet, and more; as well as being tapped to take on national projects. We are also the lead campus of the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) — one of seven national University Transportation Centers (UTC's) funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

Explore the decades of transportation research at PSU here, or dig into some of our key research areas below.

Portland State University researchers have a broad knowledge of active transportation design principles. Through our Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Design program, we host annual bikeway design workshops which draw professionals from all over the globe, and research from the TREC team has informed NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide, FHWA’s Bikeway Selection Guide, the FTA’s Manual on Bicycle and Pedestrian Connections to Transit, the FHWA’s Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation and many other design guidebooks. Our expertise includes protected bike lanes and intersections, bike boulevards, integrating with transit, and more.

Learn more about some of our most impactful research on bikeway design here, or see all our projects on bikes here.

More than 6,000 pedestrians are killed every year on American streets. Portland State University researchers have worked on hundreds of local, regional and statewide pedestrian and bicycle policy, planning, and design initiatives to address this nationwide issue. At the forefront of this work is a recognition that social inequity plays a strong role in putting people at risk, so equity must be an integral part of any tools developed that are aimed at solving the pedestrian safety crisis. 

Learn more about some of our most impactful research on designing for pedestrian safety and comfort here, or see all our projects on pedestrians here.

Electrification offers many promises for our transportation system. Under the leadership of TREC's sustainable transportation program manager, John MacArthur, TREC has developed a wealth of research around electric bicycles (e-bikes) to understand the potential for e-bikes to address mobility needs, increase access to active transportation options, and the potential of e-bikes to address sustainabilty goals. Findings from this research have been used in policy discussions at the local, regional, state and federal level.

Learn more about some of our most impactful research on e-bikes here, or see our larger body of work on electric vehicles here.