By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., UFTI Research Coordinator
After a decade as the driving force behind the success of the UF Transportation Institute (UFTI), Lily Elefteriadou, a distinguished professor in the Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering (CCE) within the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and the Environment (ESSIE), is stepping down as its director. Kyle Riding, professor and head of CCE, is serving as interim director of the UFTI.
“I felt the time was right for me to pursue new challenges,” she said. “The UFTI has been growing steadily each year, and I am looking forward to working with the interim director to ensure a seamless transition and continuous growth.”
Elefteriadou has been a powerhouse in converting what was once the Transportation Research Center (TRC) into the UFTI. She spent a decade preparing the ground for the institute’s creation, a testament to her vision of creating a multidisciplinary center dedicated to advancing transportation research, education, technology transfer, and workforce development. Inaugurated in 2013, the UFTI has become an essential hub for innovative transportation research, from reducing traffic congestion to advanced technologies such as autonomous vehicles.
Under Elefteriadou’s leadership from 2007 to 2023, UF was awarded three U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) University Transportation Centers (UTC) focusing on reducing congestion, securing over $26 million in funding, plus additional matching funds. She also served as the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) president in 2017-2018.
One of Elefteriadou’s many achievements has been the creation of I-STREET. which stands for Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies. I-STREET, a $2 million research hub, operates as a real-world “living laboratory” on the UF campus, surrounding roadway networks, and throughout Florida. The living lab focuses on mobility and safety by advancing technologies such as autonomous vehicles and shuttles, smart devices, and sensors.
“I-STREET has been a wonderful opportunity to work with our partners in the public and private sectors and develop innovative transportation solutions with the potential to make a difference in people’s lives,” Elefteriadou said.
As part of the I-STREET initiative, Elefteriadou created an industry council comprised of transportation-related companies that provide financial support for student scholarships and fellowships, independent research, technology development, and innovation in transportation. This council will help create a solid foundation for UFTI’s future endeavors.
“Partnering with industry is an essential component of I-STREET for facilitating both development and deployment of advanced transportation technologies,” she said.
Elefteriadou’s lifelong achievements are too many to capture in a brief article, and they extend beyond the UFTI. Still, they are a testament to her unforgettable impact on the field of transportation engineering, including her election as a Fellow of the American Associate for the Advancement of Science in 2022, her selection as a 2024 UF Florida Research Foundation Professor, and the publication of the second edition of her textbook, “An Introduction to Traffic Flow Theory.”
While the UFTI is looking for a new director, Riding, recently appointed as the Head of CCE, will manage and oversee the institute during this moment of transition while helping coordinate and support the search for a new director.
“I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of someone like Dr. Elefteriadou and the tremendous progress she has made advancing transportation research in Florida,” he said. “I hope to set the foundation for the next director of UFTI to come in and make a significant impact on transportation research and practice like Dr. Elefteriadou made.”