Center for Transportation Research, University of Tennessee Knoxville

06/08/2026

University of Tennessee, Knoxville students! CTR has three open positions on joinhandshake.com that are each suited for different backgrounds and areas of study.

If you are a graduate or undergraduate UTK student interested in transportation planning, safety, or communications please consider applying to one or more of the following positions on the "University of Tennessee, Center for Transportation Research" brand page on Handshake:

- Teen Driver Safety Outreach Intern
- Transportation Research Ambassador
- Transportation Planning Intern

06/04/2026

University of Tennessee, Knoxville students have been selected to participate in the EcoCAR EV Challenge under the leadership of faculty advisors Subhadeep Chakraborty—a CTR affiliated faculty member— and Pingen Chen from the University of Tennessee Mechanical, Aerospace, & Biomedical Engineering - University of Tennessee, Knoxville, alongside Hairong Qi from the Min H. Kao Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science - UTK. This four-year competition is aimed at developing next-generation, energy-efficient and intelligent mobility solutions using emerging technologies.

Administered by Argonne National Laboratory, the EcoCAR Innovation Challenge is the 15th installment of the Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC) series. The challenge aspires to push innovation and develop the future automotive workforce.

UT was one of 20 universities from across North America selected for the latest installment of the competition, which runs from the fall of 2026 through the spring of 2030.

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

Knoxville Area Transit is set to make the bus route serving downtown permanently free

06/01/2026

Looking for a more efficient way to access comprehensive crash investigations and safety data?

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) offers a powerful tool called CAROL (Case Analysis and Reporting Online), a centralized database built for deep-dive investigation reports and safety recommendations.

Whether you are analyzing infrastructure trends, writing a grant proposal, or conducting academic literature reviews, CAROL allows you to filter critical safety data to fit your exact research scope:

- Basic Search: Search using common criteria like date, location, and mode
- Aviation Search: Specialized search for aviation-specific criteria
- Custom Search: Build complex queries with advanced filtering options

Leveraging validated federal data is key to advancing transportation innovation and safety. Explore the tool to see how it can support your next research project.

View or use this tool here: my.ntsb.gov

05/29/2026

How are Tennessee’s leading transportation planners shaping the future of regional infrastructure?

The annual Tennessee Model Users Group (TNMUG) conference in Mt. Juliet brought together experts for a high-energy "gathering of the minds" facilitated by CTR. While the rapid integration of AI in travel demand modeling sparked significant buzz, the diverse technical program also tackled long-range planning forecasts, freight logistics using Transearch data, and employment hub options. Interspersed with an interactive MPO roundtable and updates from TDOT and Geotab, 8 expert speakers shared the stage as attendees collaborated on data methodologies and state validation standards to optimize our transport systems.

05/28/2026

We're excited to move ahead on safety improvements on Magnolia Avenue, funded by USDOT grants. Intersections at Cherry (shown), Hembree, and Castle streets have been identified as priorities due to a notably high incidence of severe crashes and pedestrian activity. We want to hear from neighbors, shoppers, workers and other visitors in this corridor.

• Take the survey online (link in first comment)
• Share your insights on where crossing dangers exist at these intersections.
• Help us prioritize the infrastructure improvements that will make you feel safe to walk and cross at the intersections.

05/28/2026

Associate Professor Candace Brakewood and her team have received an Arnold Ventures grant to support a research project examining New York City’s congestion pricing program, an approach intended to reduce traffic while generating revenue for the region’s transportation system.

Get details on the project 🔗 https://bit.ly/4uArv5p

05/26/2026

Are you a UTK Geography and Sustainability student interested in shaping the future of Tennessee transportation?

The Center for Transportation Research (CTR) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is seeking a Transportation Planning Intern to join our team. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience with ESRI ArcGIS StoryMaps, working directly on projects for myTDOT.

In this role, you will help translate transportation, demographic, and economic data into interactive digital narratives that serve as essential resources for planners and local officials across the state.

What you would gain from this internship:
- Contribute to planning resources covering all of Tennessee’s rural counties and Rural Planning Organizations.
- Enhance your ArcGIS proficiency and gain experience with ADA-compliant digital design.
- This is a *paid*, hybrid position (10–15 hours/week) designed to accommodate your academic schedule.

What we are looking for:
- Current UT undergraduate or graduate *geography* student.
- Experience with ESRI ArcGIS (experience in StoryMaps not required).
- Bonus points for access to ArcGIS Pro and experience with AI.

If you are interested in turning data into stories that drive real-world change, we would love to hear from you.

🔗 Apply from the CTR Handshake profile under "Jobs": https://app.joinhandshake.com/e/321618/

05/13/2026

On Sunday, join Open Streets Knoxville as they show the city what alternative transportation can do for a community.

Open Streets Knoxville is a one day event on May 17th, 2026 with music, booths, and more. Experience Gay Street as it opens up to people instead of cars, from Summit Hill Dr. to Hill Ave., and extending across the Gay St. Bridge.

Walk, bike, roll, dance, explore and more in the street!