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Transportation Research Center News

The Transportation Research Center (TRC) promotes and facilitates transportation related research, education, and outreach activities at UNLV to address current, emerging, and long-term needs and challenges for a vibrant transportation system. TRC strives to develop innovative solutions that enhance safety, as well as improve accessibility and mobility for passenger and freight transportation systems.

Current Transportation Research Center News

A UNLV student studies with the Strip in the distance.
Campus News |

Headlines and highlights featuring the students and faculty of UNLV.

UNLV XMAS
Campus News |

This month’s frosty headlines and highlights from the students and faculty of UNLV.

transit center at night
Business and Community |

Shashi Nambisan, director of UNLV’s Transportation Research Center, explores sustainable solutions for a robust and efficient transportation system.

child in makeup sits on gurney as part of traffic safety workshop demo
Campus News |

The workshops and accident re-enactment immerse students in urban infrastructure planning issues.

Erin Breen speaks at front of room during traffic safety workshop
Campus News |

Erin Breen, longtime safety advocate, on the Maryland Parkway project and other transportation improvements coming to the Valley.

a UNLV football helmet placed on the turf with an Allegiant Stadium sign and empty bleachers visible in the background
Campus News |

As the nation's most-watched sports entertainment event rolls into town, UNLV researchers are available to provide expertise.

Transportation Research Center In The News

KVVU-TV: Fox 5

Fatal crashes in Clark County are down nearly a third compared to the same period last year, according to the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety. But for families who have lost loved ones on the road, the number of deaths is unacceptable.

KSNV-TV: News 3

There's a new law in Nevada that's meant to help students get to and from school safely. School zones have become danger zones for many students, with unsafe driving and distractions.

Las Vegas Review Journal

After an eye-popping 356 percent increase in crashes involving vulnerable school-age road users, Clark County is looking to increase safety for students.

KSNV-TV: News 3

427 students were hit while going to and from school last year in Clark County. Four of those students died. Clark County leaders are rolling out a new plan to get students to and from school every day safely.

KLAS-TV: 8 News Now

Tesla Robotaxi filed an application with the Nevada Transportation Authority to bring up to 5,000 robotaxis to Clark County, if approved, they would join the fray of self-driving cars in the valley.

City Cast Las Vegas

Last month, the City of Las Vegas unanimously approved a new traffic camera program that’s not about speeding tickets – but collecting traffic data. It’s in the hopes of improving street safety and won’t be used by police. So what gives? Today, we revisit a conversation between Dayvid Figler and Erin Breen, director of UNLV’s Road Equity Alliance Project, to dig deep on not just why so many drivers hate these cameras, but why so many city leaders love them. 

Transportation Research Center Experts

An expert in the theory and application of transportation systems, traffic dynamics, and distracted driving
An expert in traffic and pedestrian safety.
An expert in traffic and road safety.

Recent Transportation Research Center Accomplishments

The Transportation Research Center (TRC) recently participated in the 2025 Pacific Southwest Region (PSR) University Transportation Center (UTC) Annual Congress at the University of California, Berkeley. Assistant research engineer Juliana Byzyka (TRC) presented their project titled, “A Methodology to Evaluate Complete Streets Development in Small…
Juliana Byzyka (Transportation Research Center) will be honored with the International Association for Advanced Materials (IAAM) Young Scientist Medal in recognition of her significant contributions to materials science, engineering, and technology. This prestigious award will be presented to her during the Advanced Materials World…
Juliana Byzyka (Transportation Research Center) recently attended the 2024 Nevada Asphalt Conference: Sustainable and Resilient Pavement where she jointly presented with professor Mujib Rahman (Aston University, UK) and moderated the sessions of the final day. The topic of their presentation was “Infrared Heated Pothole Repairs: A Sustainable…
The Transportation Research Center (TRC) at UNLV has actively participated in two conferences and one symposium over the past two weeks: the 2024 Fall Transportation Conference, the UNLV Interdisciplinary Research Symposium, and the 2024 Nevada Asphalt Conference. Numerous undergraduate and graduate engineering students and faculty…
Juliana Byzyka (Transportation Research Center) joined her colleagues Erin Breen (Transportation Research Center) and Courtney Coughenour (Environmental and Occupational Health) at the regional conference with the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) - Las Vegas #74 at the Tuscany Suites and Casino. The panel engaged in…
Juliana Byzyka (Transportation Research Center) was recently appointed to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NHRP) Project 20-136 Panel. This project, titled "Use of Data from Sensors Integrated within Connected Vehicles in Maintenance Management and Pavement Management," focuses on identifying available sensing technologies…