NCTR is a program within the Center for Urban Transportation Research as a result of Congressional designations of University Transportation Centers (UTCs) beginning in 1991. In 2002, 2006, and 2011, CUTR successfully competed to retain NCTR’s status as a UTC.
The objectives of UTCs are to advance the nation’s transportation system through research, education, and technology transfer. NCTR has been one of only two transit-focused UTCs. CUTR works closely with the FTA and the FDOT to identify and conduct research projects intended to improve public transit safety, state of good repair, economic competitiveness, livability, and environmental sustainability. USF is the lead institution for the most recently awarded UTC federal grant in collaboration with North Dakota State University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Florida International University. Each partner secure matching funds from the state and local level to match the federal grant. This partnership expands NCTR’s access to other experienced transit researchers. In addition to conducting extensive research, NCTR provides opportunities for students to become familiar with transit and alternative forms of transportation as a potential career.
Submissions from 2020
An Assessment of Intercity Bus Services in Illinois, CUTR
CUTR Transportation Webcast Series, CUTR
Deficiencies in Public Transit Accessibility of Healthcare Facilities in Chicago, CUTR
Impact of COVID-19 on Travel Behavior and Shared Mobility Systems, CUTR
Improving the Quality and Cost Effectiveness of Multimodal Travel Behavior Data Collection, CUTR
Safe and Accessible Pedestrian Facility Inventory Model (SAPFIM): Development, CUTR
Safe and Accessible Pedestrian Facility Inventory Model (SAPFIM): Planning and Design, CUTR
The Impacts of Emerging Mobility Options and Vehicle Technologies on Travel Behavior, CUTR
Submissions from 2018
Campus Automated Shuttle Service Deployment Initiative, CUTR
CUTR Transportation Webcast Series, CUTR
Enhancing Cybersecurity in Public Transportation, CUTR
Florida’s Public Transit and Women’s Safety – Real and Perceived Concerns, CUTR
Improving Transportation Access to Health Care Services, CUTR
Media Framing of Fatal Bicycle Crashes in Hillsborough County: A Critical Discourse Analysis, CUTR
Public Transit in America 2017, CUTR
Transit and Livability: Results from the National Community Livability Survey, CUTR
Submissions from 2017
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Travel Training Evaluation Project, CUTR
Chicago Public Schools Travel Training, CUTR
Improving Access to Transit Thru Crowd Sourced Info, CUTR
Mobility Case Studies: Where Integrated Corridor Management Has Worked and Why, CUTR
Public Transit to Public Lands: The Nature Express, CUTR
Ranking Northeast Illinois New Starts Transit Potential Expansion for Metra and CTA, CUTR
Submissions from 2016
Characterization of Transit Ride Quality, CUTR
Estimating Ridership of Rural Demand-Response Transit Services for the General Public, CUTR
Guidebooks for Estimating Total Transit Usage through Extrapolating Incomplete Counts, CUTR
Implications to Public Transportation of Emerging Technologies, CUTR
Innovative Approach to Estimating Demand for Intercity Bus Services in a Rural Environment, CUTR
Integrated Approaches to EV Charging Infrastructure and Transit System Planning, CUTR
Methodology for Linking Greenways and Trails with Public Transportation in Florida, CUTR
Ongoing Evaluation of Alternatively Fueled Buses, CUTR
Safe and Accessible Pedestrian Facility Inventory Model (SAPFIM), CUTR
State of Good Repair Performance Measures: Assessing Asset Condition, Age, and Performance Data, CUTR
Workforce Development and Succession Planning to Prepare the Rural Transit Industry for the Future, CUTR
Submissions from 2015
Analysis of Built Environmental Features and Effects on Freight Activities, CUTR
Capturing the Benefits of Complete Streets, CUTR
Developing a Method for Assessing National Demand-Response Transit Level of Service, CUTR
Development of an Analytical Framework to Rank Pedestrian and Cyclist Projects, CUTR
Development of Public Transit II Course, CUTR
Evaluation of HART MetroRapid BRT, CUTR
Flexible Public Transportation in Florida, CUTR
Identifying and Satisfying the Mobility Needs of North Dakota's Transit System, CUTR
Impact of TDM on Managed Lanes Toll Prices, CUTR
Metropolitan Chicago Accessibility Mapping Project, CUTR
Mode Choice Modeling Using Personalized Travel Time and Cost Data, CUTR
Moving America on Transit – Innovation in Real-time Transit Information, CUTR
National Transit Demand Response level of Service, CUTR
Synthesis of Research on the Use of Idle Reduction Technologies in Transit, CUTR
Technology Application among Florida Community Transportation Coordinators, CUTR
Training Manual for Transit Service Planning and Scheduling, CUTR
Transit Value Capture Coordination: Case Studies, Best Practices, and Recommendations, CUTR
Submissions from 2014
Analysis of Transit Contracting Models and Proper Incentives for Long-Term Success, CUTR
Bus Operator Safety Critical Issues Examination and Model Practices, CUTR
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rural and Small Urban Transit, CUTR
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Rural and Small Urban Transit, CUTR
Evaluation of Rear-End Bus Collisions and Identification of Possible Solutions, CUTR
Impacts of Dialysis Transportation on Florida’s Coordinated Public Transportation Programs, CUTR
Improving Veteran Mobility, CUTR
Investigation, Quantification and Recommendations – Performance of Alternatively Fueled Buses, CUTR
Multimodal Transportation Best Practices and Model Element, CUTR
Rural Transit Fact Book 2014, CUTR
Transportation Needs Assessment: Planning Transportation to Meet the Needs of an Aging Illinois, CUTR
Submissions from 2013
Analysis of Movable Bus Stop Boarding and Alighting Area, CUTR
A Qualitative Analysis of Bus Simulator Training on Transit Incidents – A Case Study in Florida, CUTR
A Tool for Assessing the Economic Impact of Spending on Public Transit, CUTR
Dynamic Delivery of the National Transit Database Sampling Manual, CUTR
Effectively Managing Consumer Fuel Price Driven Transit Demand, CUTR
Forecasting Paratransit Services Demand – Review and Recommendations, CUTR
Improved Traffic Control Measures to Prevent Incorrect Turns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, CUTR
Improving Cost Effectiveness of Financial Incentives in Managing TDM, CUTR
Integrating Transit with Road Pricing Projects, CUTR
Project UCARE: Uniform Commuter Assistance Reporting and Evaluation for TDM Programs, CUTR
Recommendations for Yield-to-Bus Traffic Control Devices and Bus Pullout Bays Design Characteristics, CUTR
Ridership Impacts of South Florida’s EASY Smart Card, CUTR
Rural Transit Fact Book 2013, CUTR
Tracking Costs of Alternatively Fueled Buses in Florida - Phase II, CUTR
Transit Boardings Estimation and Simulation Tool (TBEST) Calibration for Guideway and BRT Modes, CUTR
Submissions from 2012
Analysis of the Status and Impacts of NCTR Projects, CUTR
Analysis of the Status and Impacts of NCTR Projects, CUTR
An Assessment of Public Transportation Markets Using NHTS Data, CUTR
A Summary of Design, Policies and Operational Characteristics for Shared Bicycle/Bus Lanes, CUTR
Best Practices in Bus Dispatch, CUTR
Development of a Regional Public Transportation GIS Architecture and Data Model, CUTR
Evaluation of Camera-Based Systems to Reduce Transit Bus Side Collisions – Phase II, CUTR
Implementing Transit Coordination in North Dakota Pilot Regions, CUTR
Transit Service Reliability: Analyzing Automatic Vehicle Location, CUTR
Submissions from 2011
Dynamic Travel Information – Personalized and Delivered to Your Cell Phone, CUTR
Enabling Cost-Effective Multimodal Trip Planners through Open Transit Data, CUTR
Expanding the Google Transit Data Feed Specification to Support Operations and Planning, CUTR
Exploration of Transit’s Sustainability Competitiveness, CUTR
