Government Resources
Below are state governmental agencies in order of specificity to transportation topics.
- Caltrans: California Department of TransportationCaltrans manages more than 50,000 miles of California's highway and freeway lanes, provides inter-city rail services, permits more than 400 public-use airports and special-use hospital heliports, and works with local agencies. Caltrans carries out its mission with six primary programs: Aeronautics, Highway Transportation, Mass Transportation, Transportation Planning, Administration and the Equipment Service Center.
- California Transportation CommissionThe 13-member California Transportation Commission (CTC) is responsible for programming and allocating funds for the construction of highway, passenger rail, transit and active transportation improvements throughout California. The Commission also advises and assists the Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency and the Legislature in formulating and evaluating state policies and plans for California’s transportation programs.
- California High-Speed Rail AuthorityThe California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), is responsible for planning, designing, building and operation of the nation’s first high-speed rail system. California high-speed rail will connect the mega-regions of the state, contribute to economic development and a cleaner environment, create jobs and preserve agricultural and protected lands.
- California Energy CommissionCalifornia's energy policy and planning agency provides policy and program information, reports, datasets, maps, and more. Resources are largely focused on clean energy, given the state's 100% clean energy goal.
- California Public Utilities CommissionCPUC regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies in California.
- California Air Resources BoardCARB is charged with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change, from requirements for clean cars and fuels to adopting innovative solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Below are national governmental agencies in order of specificity to transportation topics.
- DOT: U.S. Department of TransportationThis unit focuses on transportation technologies, safety, equity, climate and sustainability.
- National Transportation LibraryThe Bureau of Transportation Statistics' National Transportation Library (NTL) is the permanent, publicly accessible home for research publications from throughout the transportation community; the gateway to all DOT data; and the help line for the Congress, researchers, and the public for information about transportation.
- National Transportation Safety BoardThe National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation—railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space.
- U.S. DOT Volpe CenterFor more than 50 years, the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Volpe Center has been advancing transportation innovation for the public good. The Center works to anticipate emerging transportation issues and objectively address the nation’s most pressing and complex transportation challenges, particularly those that can be solved with an intermodal, systems perspective.
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)The TSA is a U.S. Agency with a mission to protect the nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.
- U.S. Surface Transportation BoardThe Surface Transportation Board is an independent federal agency that is charged with the economic regulation of various modes of surface transportation, primarily freight rail. The STB exercises its statutory authority and resolves disputes in support of an efficient, competitive, and economically viable surface transportation network that meets the needs of its users.
- U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationThe committee is composed of seven subcommittees, which together oversee for the vast range of issues under its jurisdiction. These issues range from communications, highways, aviation, rail, shipping, transportation security, merchant marine, the Coast Guard, oceans, fisheries, weather, disasters, science, space, interstate commerce, tourism, consumer issues, economic development, technology, competitiveness, product safety, and insurance.
- U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & InfrastructureThe Committee has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation – aviation system, highways and bridges, transit and rail transportation, pipelines, and maritime and waterborne transportation. The Committee also has jurisdiction over wastewater infrastructure, the Nation’s emergency preparedness and response programs, public buildings and federal real estate management, federal economic development agencies, and one of America’s five Armed Forces: the U.S. Coast Guard.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)Through enforcing vehicle performance standards and partnerships with state and local governments, NHTSA reduces deaths, injuries and economic losses from motor vehicle crashes through research, ratings, and regulations, and provides data on highway and vehicle safety.
- DOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable EnergyThis unit focuses on renewable electricity generation, energy-saving construction and manufacturing, and sustainable transportation
- National Renewable Energy LaboratoryThis is a U.S. Government research institute focused on technological innovation in energy generation, consumption, storage and distribution.
- US Bureau of Land ManagementThe US Bureau of Land Management supports American energy, land and wildlife conservation, fire management, and more.
- EPA National Service Center for Environmental Publications This link opens in a new windowEPA's central repository of all EPA documents with over 7,000 titles available in paper or electronic form.
- National Technical Reports Library This link opens in a new windowGovernment-sponsored research, development and technical reports with full-text access to digitized reports published by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), Department of Commerce. Search more than 3 million reports with links to over 800,000 full-text reports.
[Coverage: 1964-present] - CQ Press Library/Political Reference Suite This link opens in a new windowCongressional Quarterly (CQ) Electronic Library includes many resources for the study of current and historical congressional and American government issues. The CQ Researcher is an invaluable source of background information on topical issues since 1991. The Global Researcher is similar to CQ Researcher but with an international orientation. CQ Weekly Report, available starting in 1983, reports in depth on congressional activities and political developments. Also included is the Politics in America, with information about members of congress and their districts. Additional online books are excellent references about U.S. politics, voting, congress and government.
Below are international agencies related to transportation beginning globally and followed by region-specific resources.
- United Nations Transport and Trade Connectivity Project (UNTTC)The initiative addresses three priorities in the areas of transport and trade connectivity in times of the COVID-19 crisis: contactless solutions, seamless connectivity, and collaborative solutions.
- International Maritime Organization (IMO)IMO – the International Maritime Organization – is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships. IMO's work supports the UN SDGs.
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations agency which helps 193 countries to cooperate together and share their skies to their mutual benefit. ICAO develops policies and standards, undertakes compliance audits, performs studies and analyses, provides assistance and builds aviation capacity through many other activities and the cooperation of its Member States and stakeholders.
- Transport Research and Innovation Monitoring and Information System (TRIMIS)TRIMIS provides open-access information on transport research and innovation to support the implementation of transport policies of the European Union and at the Member States level and helps the development and monitoring of the Strategic Transport Research and Innovation Agenda (STRIA). TRIMIS analyses technology trends and research and innovation capacities in the European transport sector.
- CIVITASThe CIVITAS Initiative works to make sustainable and smart urban mobility a reality for all in Europe and beyond. Since its launch in 2002, CIVITAS has advanced research and innovation in sustainable urban mobility and enabled local authorities to develop, test and roll out measures via a range of projects in ten thematic areas including active mobility, clean & energy-efficient vehicles, collective passenger transport & shared mobility, road safety & security, and more.
- Sub-Saharan Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP)With the goal of ensuring that all Africans have access to, and are served by, safe, sustainable and reliable transport systems, SSATP actively partners with African member countries, development partners, regional economic communities, and other private and public sector organizations to address the main policy issues hindering the region’s transport sector.
- Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC/CEPAL) Logistics & MobilityECLAC -the Spanish acronym is CEPAL-, which is headquartered in Santiago, Chile, is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It was founded with the purpose of contributing to the economic and social development of Latin America and the Caribbean. The Logistics and Mobility efforts involve policy, trade and transportation, and passenger transportation.
- Australian Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the ArtsThe department provides policy advice and delivers programs, projects and services in the infrastructure, transport, communications and arts sectors.
- APEC Transportation Working Group (TPTWG)TPTWG seeks to advance the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation's (APEC) overarching agenda of improving connectivity and deepening regional economic integration by developing policies that promote the safe, secure, efficient, and sustainable and legitimate movement of people and goods throughout the region. Priorities include trade and investment and road to Covid recovery, inclusive and sustainable transport, and embracing technology and innovation.
Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- ACSC Infrastructure Report CardSince 1998, The American Society of Civil Engineers has issued the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The report card is released every four years. Using a simple A to F school report card format, the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure examines current infrastructure conditions and needs, assigns grades, and makes recommendations for how to improve in 17 categories of infrastructure.
- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association representing highway and transportation departments in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It represents all transportation modes: air, highways, public transportation, active transportation, rail, and water. Its primary goal is to foster the development, operation, and maintenance of an integrated national transportation system.
- American Public Transportation Association (APTA)The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is a nonprofit international association, primarily working in North America, advocating for federal funding and policies, research, technical expertise and consulting services, workforce development programs, educational conferences and seminars, and 135 subject-matter working committees.
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI)ATRI is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Sacramento with a mission to conduct transportation research, with an emphasis on the trucking industry’s essential role in a safe, efficient and viable transportation system.
- Association of American RailroadsAAR is an organization that focuses on the safety and productivity of the U.S. freight rail industry, focusing on policy, research, standard setting, and technology.
- National Academies Transportation Research Board (TRB)As part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) aims to anticipate and solve complex transportation-related challenges such as advancing resilient infrastructure, exploring transformational technology, and caring for the public’s health and safety. TRB provides publications, events, and databases such as TRID, SHRP 2, and more.
- Rails to TrailsSince 1986, RTC has worked to bring the power of trails to more communities across the country, serving as the national voice for the rail-trail movement. Their focus is on creating trail networks that connect people and places, bringing transformative benefits to communities all across the country. Initiatives include the Great American Rail-Trail®, TrailNation™ and TrailLink.com.
- African Center for CitiesACC is an interdisciplinary hub at the University of Cape Town with a mandate to conduct meaningful research on how to understand, recast and address pressing urban crises. ACC goals include understanding the drivers of urban crisis, providing development products and services, strengthening knowledge and urban research in Africa and the global South, and advocating to shape the urban development agenda in Africa and the global South.
- Confederation of Organisations in Road Transport Enforcement (CORTE)The Confederation of Organisations in Road Transport Enforcement (CORTE) was established in 1997 as an informal group of experts named the “EU Enforcers Group”. It is an international (non-profit) organization, which brings together national authorities, transport associations and transport companies to foster cooperation, support regulatory evolution & harmonization of rules, conduct research, and promote smart enforcement.
- Indian Institute for Human SettlementsThe Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) is a national education institution committed to the equitable, sustainable and efficient transformation of Indian settlements. IIHS efforts include interdisciplinary research and practice to help build global knowledge and a proposed university to train urban professionals.
- International Union of Railways (UIC)UIC, the worldwide professional association representing the railway sector and promoting rail transport UIC leads an innovative and dynamic sector, helping Members find continuing success and opportunities.
- Mistra Urban FuturesMistra Urban Futures aims to generate and use knowledge for transitions towards sustainable urban futures. It is a global research and knowledge center focused on accessible, green, and fair cities with projects in areas such as transportation, migration, housing justice, solid waste management, etc.