Our Mission

With dual themes of mobility and safety, PacTrans serves as an engine and showcase for transportation research, education, and workforce development in the Pacific Northwest.

The goal of PacTrans is to create an environment where consortium universities and transportation agencies within Region 10 work together synergistically. We are dedicated to using advanced technologies to develop data-driven, safe and sustainable solutions for the diverse transportation needs of the Pacific Northwest.

The Pacific Northwest offers a unique blend of opportunities to examine a variety of transportation issues, including those related to urban centers, rural communities, diverse geographic features (e.g., coastal plains, mountain ranges), and a growing population of pedestrians and bicyclists. This diversity makes the Pacific Northwest a natural laboratory in which to investigate transportation solutions that are applicable both locally and nationally. PacTrans is dedicated to collaborating with transportation agencies, companies, and research institutions to jointly develop safe and sustainable solutions for the diverse transportation needs of the Pacific Northwest.

General UTC Mission, Vision, and Goals

Vision

Internationally recognized centers of excellence, fully integrated within institutions of higher learning, that serve as a vital source of leaders who are prepared to meet the Nation’s need for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound movement of people and goods.

Mission

To advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through the mechanisms of education, research, and technology transfer at university-based centers of excellence.

Goals

  1. Education: a multidisciplinary program of coursework and experiential learning that reinforces the transportation theme of the Center.
  2. Human Resources: an increased number of students, faculty, and staff who are attracted to and substantively involved in the undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs of the Center.
  3. Diversity: students, faculty, and staff who reflect the growing diversity of the U.S. workforce and are substantively involved in the undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs of the Center.
  4. Research Selection: an objective process for selecting and reviewing research that balances multiple objectives of the program.
  5. Research Performance: an ongoing program of basic and applied research, the products of which are judged by peers or other experts in the field to advance the body of knowledge in transportation.
  6. Technology Transfer: availability of research to potential users in a form that can be directly implemented, utilized, or otherwise applied.