Students win 3-Minute Pitch at the ITE International Annual Meeting in Orlando

September 23, 2025

By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., Research/Communications Coordinator, UFTI Bryce Grame and Gustavo Zschaber, both University of Florida civil engineering graduate students specializing in transportation engineering, won first place during the 3-Minute Student Pitch Competition held as part of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) International Meeting in Orlando, Florida, Aug. 10 – 13. This year, […]

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In the Conch Republic, UF researchers and Key West locals join forces for a safer paradise

September 23, 2025

By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., Research/Communications Coordinator, UFTI The streets of Key West always buzz with life. On any given day, you’ll see tourists pedaling past charming pastel-colored cottages, tourists stepping off sunbaked cruise ships wandering about, and roosters – yes, roosters – strutting confidently around town. But beneath all that charm is a serious […]

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Christian Cardenas Draws from Sociology and Statistics to Research Autonomous Vehicle Safety

July 21, 2025

By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., Research/Communications Coordinator Christian Cardenas is spending his summer with the University of Florida’s Secure, Accessible, and Sustainable Transportation program – a paid internship sponsored by the National Science Foundation supporting talented undergraduate students involved in high-impact research exploring autonomous transportation challenges. Cardenas, an undergraduate student from Grinnell College in Iowa, […]

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Student Spotlight: Myra Monreal, P.E., AICP – The “Plangineer”

March 21, 2025

By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., UFTI Research & Communications Coordinator Perched on a bridge above an interstate leading into Atlanta, Georgia, Myra Monreal and her college classmates observed and recorded the movements of traffic below. She found this experience to be delightful – one that helped to shape her into a “plangineer.” “I remember the […]

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How a UF Doctoral Student’s Passion for Integrating Transportation Technologies Led Her to a Post Doc at UMass

February 26, 2025

By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., UFTI Research & Communications Coordinator Many students pursue a doctoral degree because they wish to deepen their knowledge, contribute to enhancing the state of the art and make some sort of meaningful impact in their chosen field. For Isabelle Wandenkolk, that desire led her to explore how to use technology […]

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I-STREET Manager Presents Technology and Accessibility Recommendations to Florida Senate Transportation Committee

January 22, 2025

By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., M.A., UFTI Research Coordinator/Communications I-STREET Manager Pruthvi Manjunatha of the UFTI presented findings from a study on Florida’s paratransit services to the state Transportation Committee on Jan. 14 in Tallahassee. The study, which was conducted in response to Florida Senate Bill 1380, explored mismatches in the state’s paratransit systems while also […]

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Can a Tropical Superfood Help Older Adults Drive Safer and Longer?

November 26, 2024

By Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., Research Coordinator, UFTI Researchers at the UF Institute for Driving, Activity, Participation, and Technology (I-DAPT) have been awarded a grant by the Osato Research Institute (ORI) in Japan to study how the effects of fermented papaya preparation (FPP®) impact the driving performance in older adults. Led by Sherrilene Classen, professor and […]

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University of Florida Transportation Institute Partners with Urban SDK to Expand I-STREET Program

May 14, 2024

Gainesville, Florida – 05/14/2024 – The University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI) has formed a strategic partnership with leading traffic solutions software company, Urban SDK to expand its I-STREETTM Program to enhance collaboration with local governments and technology startups. This initiative lets local governments improve transportation, mobility, safety, and infrastructure with unprecedented access to cutting-edge […]

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UFTI’s T2 Center Drives Innovation Through Groundbreaking Remote-Controlled Trucks to Protect Road Ranger Service Patrols

May 8, 2024

by Charles Brown, UFTI-T2 Research Communications If you’re on the side of a Florida Interstate with no gas, a flat tire, or something more serious, you might see a Road Ranger Service Patrol truck pulling in behind you to provide aid. The Road Ranger Service Patrol (RRSP) is a program of the Florida Department of […]

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Enhancing Road Traffic Safety Through the Synchronization of Self-Driving Vehicles

April 16, 2024

Written by Ines Aviles-Spadoni, M.S., UFTI Research Coordinator As self-driving vehicles (also known as connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) become increasingly common, it is vital that their movements are seamlessly coordinated so they can drive safely and efficiently on our highways and roads. Among those coordinated driving maneuvers such as car-following and lane change, vehicle […]

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