Solving problems. Sharing knowledge. Informing decisions.
About Us
The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) is a national leader in the research and development of innovative transportation policy. Located within the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, the Center brings to bear the full array of resources of a major research university on transportation issues of regional and national significance. VTC includes the National Transit Institute, which was created by Congress in 1992 to design and deliver training and education programs for the U.S. transit industry.
Our Mission
The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) solves problems, shares knowledge, and informs decisions. We do this by engaging with our research customers, policy makers, and civic leaders, conducting leading-edge research, delivering high-quality training and education programs, and providing insightful technical assistance on a range of critical transportation planning and policy topics. We pursue our mission with a strong commitment to equity, empathy, empowerment, and social justice.
Our Core Activities
VTC addresses a broad array of transportation and mobility topics. In addition to addressing emerging topics in transportation such as shared mobility, micro-mobility, automated vehicles, and big data in transportation, the Center has long-standing, core strengths related to:
- Transportation and the built environment, including transit-oriented development, pedestrian and bicycle mobility and safety, complete streets, “healthy community” design, and smart growth.
- Transportation and social equity, including access for the transportation disadvantaged, environmental justice and safe routes to school.
- Transportation and the environment, including energy consumption, air pollution, climate change, and green infrastructure solutions to mitigate the negative effects of transportation on the environment.
- Transportation finance and the economy, including the costs of transportation, sustainable funding, and the economic impacts of transportation investments.
Other areas of expertise include strategic governance, motor vehicle licensing policy, transportation resilience, and the role transportation plays in emergency management and evacuation planning.
Consistent with the missions of both the University and the Bloustein School, VTC undertakes activity in three core areas.
What We Do
Research
We conduct interdisciplinary applied and academic research on aspects of transportation policy and planning which are of a critical nature and which are not otherwise addressed by conventional sponsors.
Education & Training
We provide educational opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students through opportunities to participate in “hands-on” research projects and transportation planning studio courses. In collaboration with the Federal Transit Administration and other transportation agencies at all levels, we develop and deliver training and education programs for the transit industry, government officials and the public at-large.
Service
We provide transportation expertise to citizens and policy makers on a range of transportation issues; convene forums, conferences, and seminars on critical issues involving transportation; and maintain a commitment to disseminating information related to critical transportation issues, simplifying and clarifying transportation data and information for popular understanding, to improve the quality of choices made by voters and public officials.
Our Staff & Faculty
Robert B. Noland, PhD
Director
Leigh Ann Von Hagen
Executive Director
Matt Bond
Research Project Coordinator
Jeffrey Dennis
Travel Instructor
Stephanie DiPetrillo
Research Project Manager
Hiyabu Habtemichael
Research Project Coordinator
Cate Heady
Research Project Coordinator
James Kenah
Senior Research Specialist
Bonnie Kennedy
Marketing Assistant
Andrea Lubin
Managing Director and Senior Researcher
Sean Meehan
Research Project Manager
Spencer Morrison
Project Coordinator
Jackie Ng
Program Coordinator and Travel Instructor
Fatima Oliva
Research Project Coordinator
Andrew Olsen
Research Project Coordinator
Kelcie Ralph, PhD
Associate Professor and Research Associate
Samuel Rosenthal
Research Project Coordinator
Miriam Salerno
Managing Director, Public Outreach and Engagement Team (POET)
James Sinclair
Senior Research Specialist
Michael Smart, PhD
Associate Professor and Research Associate
Jacob Thompson
Research Project Coordinator
Jesika Tixi
Research Project Coordinator
Greg Woltman
Research Project Coordinator
Hannah Younes, PhD
Senior Research Specialist
Wenwen Zhang, PhD
Assistant Professor and Research Associate
Advisory Board
Members ex officio
David Behrend
NJTPA
Jennifer Marandino
SJTPO
Ariella Maron
DVRPC
Francis O'Connor
NJDOT
Kevin O'Toole
PANYNJ
Class of 2027
Nina Haiman
Class of 2026
Craig Cipriano
Thomas B. Deen
Eva Lerner-Lam
Robert E. Skinner, Jr
chair
Class of 2025
Flora Castillo
Lawrence Pesesky
Ruby Siegel
Paul J. Wiedefeld
Members emeriti
Joseph J. Maraziti, Jr.
Martin E. Robins
Partners
Bloustein Center for Survey Research (BCSR)
BCSR is a full-service research center offering clients assistance with study design, sampling, multiple method data collection, focus groups, analysis, reports and presentations.
Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT)
CAIT is a National University Transportation Center aimed at advancing the safe, efficient, economical, and environmentally sound movement of people and goods in the nation and beyond.
Environmental Analysis and Communications (EAC)
EAC is a University-based center of research, outreach, training and service focused on the analysis and communication of environmental issues facing communities, governments, businesses and organizations.
Planning Healthy Communities Initiative (PHCI)
The Planning Healthy Communities Initiative (PHCI) is a partnership of researchers at the Edward J. Bloustein School dedicated to promoting the integration of health impacts and health equity into planning and decision-making.
Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement
The Ralph W. Voorhees Center for Civic Engagement is a collaboration of university faculty, students and community development actors that seeks to enhance educational opportunities, facilitate innovative research, and build community development capacity.