Center for Urban Transportation Research - CUTR

🛴 Roll Safe, Bulls! Campus Walking, Biking & E-Scooter Safety Session!

Join us for a fun transportation safety session designed to help new USF students feel more confident walking, biking, and riding e-scooters around campus! Led by Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) Safety Ambassadors, the session will include short presentations, hands-on demonstrations, a fun safety quiz, small giveaways, and time for student questions.

You'll learn:
✅ Walking Safety
✅ Bike & e-scooter riding basics
✅ Parking & locking demonstration
✅ Helmet safety

📆 July 1, 2026
⏰12–1 pm
📍CUTR, Room 102

More info: cutr.usf.edu/2026/06/roll-safe/
RSVP: bullsconnect.usf.edu/cutr/rsvp_boot?id=2005126&rel=title

🎉 Exciting News!

Congrats to CUTR’s Dr. April Zhang, Program Director of Advance Air Mobility, on getting elected to the Council of University Transportation Centers - CUTC Executive Committee!

We’re so proud of Dr. Zhang’s contributions to our team! We are confident that Dr. Zhang will use her new role to fortify partnerships with USF and USDOT to further enrich university research communities.

🚨New Publication Alert! Our CUTR team has published a new report for the Transportation Research Board!

"NCHRP Synthesis 663: Transportation Planning in Non-Metropolitan/Rural Areas"
Authors: Jeff Kramer and Taylor Dinehart of CUTR’s Transportation Planning, Policy, and Processes program

This report offers a national look at how state DOTs and regional partners are strengthening transportation planning in rural communities.

🔗Learn more here: cutr.usf.edu/2026/06/transportation-planning-in-non-metropolitan-rural-areas/

🚨 New Webinar Recording

In this webinar, Dr. Enes Karaaslan (VisionTransformers) shares cutting-edge advancements in how autonomous vehicles perceive and interpret the world around them. Dr. Karaaslan explains the evolution from traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to next-generation Vision Transformers—a breakthrough enabling more unified, scalable, and context-aware perception systems.

Check it out: youtu.be/iVX3kr8KbwI

USF College of Engineering

CUTR Connections June Issue is out!

Featured in this issue:
🔹 CUTR’s support for the launch of new transit routes in Hernando County—expanding mobility and access on Florida’s Adventure Coast
🔹 Innovative research on MPO funding mechanisms and transportation planning in rural areas
🔹 Workforce development in action, including recognit ion of Spring 2026 graduates preparing to enter the industry
🔹 Key takeaways and engagement from the 2026 Transit Safety & Operations Summit
🔹 Upcoming trainings and events
🔹 Webinar recordings
and more!

Explore how CUTR is partnering with agencies and communities to advance transit innovation, safety, and workforce development.

📖 Read the full newsletter: https://conta.cc/4vapywL

CUTR Connections - June Issue Email from Center for Urban Transportation Research New bus routes in Hernando County FL, MPO funding, rural transportation planning, and more June 2026 Issue News and Updates   Connecting Communities

🚨 New Webinar Recording

In this seminar, Dr. Bin Xu (University of Oklahoma) presents real-world advances in autonomous driving and vehicle electrification from the OU Mobility Intelligence Lab.
Learn how standard vehicles are transformed into self-driving platforms using drive-by-wire systems, sensors, and AI, and how end-to-end learning and reinforcement learning enable smarter, safer driving decisions.

Check it out: youtu.be/VdG4Yq_ad_s

USF College of Engineering

📢 Save the date!

If you're heading to the TRB 2027 Annual Meeting, join CUTR, ENSCO, Inc., and C-STTAR for an after-hours cocktail reception and alumni reunion.

After a full day of sessions, stop by to unwind, connect, and catch up with colleagues.

📍 Succotash Restaurant, Washington, DC
📅 January 11, 2027
🕠 5:30–7:30 PM
✨ Drop in anytime — no RSVP needed

Registration for TRB opens in September, but it’s never too early to get this on your calendar!

TRB Info: nationalacademies.org/events/887

🎉 Celebrating 25 years of impact!

CUTR is proud to have 14 team members presenting at the 2026 FPTA/FDOT/CUTR Professional Development Workshop & Transit Safety and Operations Summit.

If you're attending, don’t miss the opportunity to learn from these experts across a wide range of sessions focused on advancing transit safety, operations, and innovation.

👀 Be sure to check the agenda and stop by their sessions!

🚚 June 6 is National Secure Your Load Day!

A load is only considered secure when nothing can slide, fall, shift onto the roadway, or become airborne. Even one loose item can cause serious accidents or injuries.

Before hitting the road, make sure your load is safe:

✔ Tie it down
✔ Secure large items
✔ Cover with a tarp
✔ Don’t overload
✔ Double-check!