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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As we settle into the rhythm of this fall semester, I want to thank everyone for their flexibility and perseverance as we navigate through this new reality. I continue to be amazed at the adaptability and resilience of the Faculty, Staff, and Students who make up ITS and its Centers.
As we move forward into the semester, I am pleased to announce a new strategic $10 million three-year investment in the 2021-22 California State Budget for the UC Institute of Transportation Studies (UC ITS) to conduct coordinated research and technical assistance to support evidence-based policymaking. The California Resilient and Innovative Mobility Initiative (RIMI) will focus on: Public transit and shared mobility recovery; Carbon neutrality in the transportation sector; Emerging mobility technologies and services; and “High road" job transition, emphasizing high-quality jobs. In addition, an overarching focus of the investment will be on technical assistance and knowledge transfer across all four areas to ensure that research is used to inform policy making and translated into action. We would like to congratulate and thank UC Berkeley Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Susan Shaheen, UC ITS Assistant Director Laura Podolsky and recent UC Berkeley alum Dr. Steven Wong for their tireless efforts leading to this success. Their leadership and vision were essential in securing this new source of funding for ITS. The organization of this new initiative is now in-process. Further details, and opportunities for participation and funding will be announced over the coming months.
With this new initiative on the horizon, we are also looking to bolster our ITS Senior Fellow ranks. Over the last couple of years, we have been pleased to host an outstanding group of individuals who enriched our transportation program, research, and academics; fostered stronger ties with policy and industry; mentored our students; and raised awareness for our Institute and programs. We are now seeking nominations for the next cohort. We are particularly interested in diverse nominations, representing various modes of transportation, backgrounds, perspectives, and career stages. We ask your help in identifying leading practitioners, policymakers, and industry representatives who could contribute to our new cohort of ITS Senior Fellows and value this unique partnership with ITS. Please take a minute or two to nominate a promising candidate before Oct. 8, 2021. After nominations are assessed, ITS leadership will contact leading candidates to provide information about the ITS Senior Fellow program and gauge their interest and availability for participation. With this in mind, please do not hesitate to nominate a promising candidate without knowing their willingness or ability to serve. Nominate here.
Speaking of recruitment, we are currently accepting applications for Tom West’s former position as Co-Director of California PATH. If you know a potential candidate to lead this long-standing and highly respected transportation research program focused on the research, development, and deployment of technological innovations in automation and electrification, then please encourage them to apply! See Job ID 23986.
This is a very exciting time at ITS and we have new programs and opportunities in front of us. I look forward to seeing how our recruitment and research opportunities unfold from these new initiatives. In the meantime, have a good semester, and Go Bears!
Alexandre Bayen
Director of Institute of Transportation Studies
Liao-Cho Professor of Engineering
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