METRANS Celebrates 20 Years of Research
This article is part of an ongoing series that describes research accomplishments and achievements of the METRANS Transportation Center in recognition of its 20th Anniversary. The author is Dr. Genevieve Giuliano, the Margaret and John Ferraro Chair in Effective Local Government in the Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, and Director of the METRANS joint USC and California State University Long Beach Transportation Center. Her research areas include relationships between land use and transportation, transportation policy analysis, travel behavior, and information technology applications in transportation. Current research includes examination of relationships between land use and freight flows, spatial analysis of freight activity location, impacts of freight activities on local communities, and applications for transportation system analysis using archived real-time data.
METRANS’ influence on policy and practice
A frequently asked question to research centers is, “Yes, you have done all this wonderful research, but has it made a difference?” METRANS has made a difference in moving research to practice, as well as in influencing public policy. The impacts of METRANS research travel through many pathways. In moving research to practice, the conventional model is technology transfer: researchers develop a new tool or operational practice; benefits are demonstrated through field applications or training, which then leads to adoption. However, research is not only about tools or practices; research is about ideas, about developing new knowledge, and about considering transportation problems from new perspectives. Thus moving research to practice happens in many different ways.
Making a difference through our students
One of the most effective means of “technology transfer” is to train students in state of the art knowledge and skills and send them into the workplace. METRANS has graduated literally hundreds of students, many of whom are now leaders in their organizations. Our alumni include an Executive Director of a local transit agency, Executive Director of a regional planning agency, a city mayor, and numerous department managers. They also include leaders of industry organizations, transportation entrepreneurs, and technology developers. Here are a few examples of what our alumni have accomplished:
Making a difference through service
METRANS faculty and researchers directly share their expertise through service to government and industry. Faculty serve as board members, committee members, or workshop participants, lending their expertise to policy or operational problems. Some examples:
Several members of the National Freight Advisory Committee in the House Transportation Committee chambers are about to receive testimony from members of Congress on the USDOT Freight Strategic Plan. (left to right) Stacy Hodge, then Director of Freight Planning at NYC DOT, Genevieve Giuliano, Director of METRANS, and Bonnie Lowenthal, then California state representative.
Making a difference by influencing public policy
A third way that METRANS makes a difference is by directly influencing public policy at the federal, state, or local level. Below are some examples of METRANS policy contributions.
Federal policy
State policy
Our freight research has gained wide recognition across the state.
Local Policy
METRANS has made a significant contribution to both policy and practice over its 20 year history. As the knowledge we create continues to grow, our contributions will continue to grow as well.