PHILADELPHIA — The University of Pennsylvania has launched the Richards Transportation Initiative at Penn (R-TRIP), a new program designed to turn cutting-edge research into practical solutions that improve how communities move, connect, and thrive.
Housed within the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR), R-TRIP will serve as a collaborative hub where experts from universities, government agencies, and the private sector work together to make transportation safer, more reliable, and more accessible to all.
The initiative is named for Leslie Richards, former CEO of PennDOT and SEPTA and now Professor of Practice at the Stuart Weitzman School of Design. Richards will lead R-TRIP alongside Megan Ryerson, the UPS Foundation Professor and Chair of the Department of City and Regional Planning at the Weitzman School.
“At its core, R-TRIP is about moving research into real-world action,” said Richards. “We’re building a platform where public agencies, private partners, and academic leaders can co-create solutions that don’t just work on paper — they make a measurable difference in people’s daily lives.”
A Community-Centered Mission
R-TRIP’s work will focus on some of the most urgent transportation challenges communities face today, including safer streets and crash prevention, expanded access to jobs, education, and essential services, smarter use of data and technology, infrastructure that’s resilient to future demands and disruptions, and more reliable and efficient systems for everyday users.
By combining academic insight with on-the-ground experience, R-TRIP aims to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation. Whether it’s using artificial intelligence to improve traffic safety or designing transit systems that better connect residents to opportunity, each project will be developed with direct input from local agencies and community partners.
“Transportation is the backbone of economic mobility,” said Ryerson. “When we make it safer and more accessible, we’re not just improving commutes; we’re opening doors to opportunity.”
National reach, local impact
The initiative’s Public Sector Advisory Committee brings together CEOs and leaders from major transportation agencies across the country. Their collective expertise spans transit systems, highways, airports, tolling, and municipal networks, ensuring that R-TRIP’s solutions are grounded in the realities of diverse communities.
Among the members are leaders from LA Metro, WMATA (Washington, D.C.), the California State Transportation Agency, Georgia DOT, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, Utah DOT, Denver International Airport, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, and Philadelphia’s Department of Aviation, among others.
Garrett Eucalitto, President of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, praised Penn’s effort:
“The Richards Transportation Initiative is exactly the kind of forward-looking collaboration our nation’s transportation systems need. It helps agencies think beyond standard practices, to improve mobility, accelerate electrification, and better serve their communities.”
Building the future of mobility
With its blend of research, technology, and real-world engagement, R-TRIP is poised to help cities and states across the country design transportation networks that are safer, smarter, and more inclusive, ensuring that the benefits of innovation reach every community.