The University of California Institute of Transportation Studies (UC ITS) is an expansive network of faculty, research and administrative staff, and students dedicated to advancing the state of the art in transportation engineering, planning, and policy to benefit the residents of California, the nation, and the world. Established by the California Legislature in 1947, the UC ITS has branches at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UCLA. The four branches collectively host more than 250 graduate students, with approximately 100 Masters and Ph.D. students graduating each year. Over the past quarter century, the four ITS branches have substantially expanded their individual research, education, and outreach programs to collectively form the preeminent university transportation research center in the world.

In 2017, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 (SB 1), which significantly increased state support for university research. SB 1 provides the UC ITS an annual allocation of $5 million dollars to support research that will help the Golden State maximize the economic, environmental, and social benefits of transportation investments. This funding builds upon the nearly $1 million dollars the Legislature initially provided the UC ITS in 1947 when UC ITS was established. SB 1 also provides the California State University an annual allocation of $2 million dollars for transportation research, workforce education, training, and development. This new infusion of funding greatly expands the impact UC ITS research will have on advancing cutting-edge and cost-effective California transportation policy and practice.