Driving Innovative, Accessible, Real-World Transportation Solutions

A new Transportation Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania (TRIP) led by Penn IUR Faculty Fellow Leslie Richards is a hub for research, innovation, and applied solutions in transportation. Housed within the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR), TRIP brings together scholars, students, public agencies, and private partners to address today’s complex mobility challenges. Our mission is to turn academic research into actionable transportation solutions that improve transit efficiency, mobility access, and sustainability in Philadelphia, across Pennsylvania, and nationwide.

Our Mission

TRIP connects Penn’s world-class academic expertise with the practical needs of transportation systems. We focus on:

• Applied research projects that translate insights into real-world solutions
• Pilot programs to test innovations in public transit, roadway efficiency, and emerging mobility technologies
• Cross-sector collaboration between academia, government agencies, and private industry
• Mobility initiatives that expand access to transportation for underserved communities
• Data-driven approaches to improve transit operations and passenger experience

“R-TRIP is about bridging the gap between research and implementation—turning ideas into action that improves communities,” says Leslie Richards, Founder and Executive Director of TRIP and Planning Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Richards is a former CEO of PennDOT and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). 

Areas of Focus

TRIP's research and action initiatives address critical transportation priorities, including:

• Transportation safety and crash prevention;
• Access to jobs, education, and essential services;
• Technology deployment and data-driven innovation;
• Resilient infrastructure; and
• System-level performance and resilience.
   

Applied Impact

Through hands-on student engagement, pilot programs, and partnerships with local and state agencies, TRIP ensures that every project has measurable, real-world impact. 

Advisory Board

TRIP's Advisory Board brings together leaders from academia, public agencies, and the private sector, ensuring research is practical, scalable, and implementation-ready.

Public Sector Advisory Committee Members

• Carlos Braceras
  Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) CEO
• Michael A. Carroll
  City of Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation & Information Systems (OTIS) Deputy Managing Director
• Michael B. Carroll
  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary
• Randy Clarke
  Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) CEO
• Mark Compton
  Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission CEO
• Marie Therese Dominguez
  New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner
• Garrett Eucalitto
  Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Secretary
• Richard Farr
  Rabbittransit Executive Director
• Nat Ford
  Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) CEO
• Shanté Hastings
  Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary
• Debra Johnson 
  Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) General Manager and CEO
• Katharine Kelleman
  Pittsburgh Regional Transit CEO
• Nadine Lee
  Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) CEO
• Russell McMurry
  Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner
• Toks Omishakin 
  State of California Secretary of Transportation
• Atif Saeed
  City of Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation CEO
• Gregory Slater
  Tampa Hillsborough Express Authority CEO
• Sabrina Sussman
  Nashville Choose How You Move Chief Program Officer
• Phillip Washington
  Denver International Airport CEO
• Stephanie Wiggins
  Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Deputy CEO

Lead Faculty Advisor

Megan Ryerson

Chair, City and Regional Planning; UPS Foundation Chair of Transportation, City & Regional Planning, Weitzman School of Design
Penn IUR Faculty Fellow

Sponsors and Partners

TRIP, led by Leslie Richards, is made possible through generous support from public agencies, private partners, and philanthropic organizations. Founding sponsors include Google Public Sector, AtkinsRéalis Group Inc., INRIX, Bentley, HNTB Corporation, STV Inc., WSP USA, 4M Analytics and Slalom. 
 

Get Involved

TRIP actively engages students, faculty, transportation agencies, and private partners in research and pilot projects, including:

• Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics for crash prevention, preventative maintenance, and congestion management
• Smart infrastructure that adapts to user behavior in real time
• Mobility data platforms to support smarter decision-making
• Sensor technologies that enhance roadway safety and transit reliability

Join us in shaping the future of transportation.
 

Contact Us 

Leslie Richards

Henry Sywulak-Herr
 

Launch Event

The launch events Thursday, October 16 & Friday, October 17 have passed. Stay tuned for future events!