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CR2C2 Hosts Transportation Research Exchange with University of Minnesota
On Friday, April 25, the Center for Rural and Regional Connected Communities (CR2C2) welcomed transportation researchers from the Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) at the University of Minnesota for a dynamic Transportation Research Exchange.
Held in collaboration with the NC-CAV Center of Excellence on Advanced Transportation Technology, the event spotlighted how data, intelligent systems, and emerging technologies are reshaping mobility in both urban and rural communities. The exchange aimed to foster inter-institutional partnerships and advance collaborative transportation research.
The day began with opening remarks and a morning session that connected North Carolina A&T students with Civil Engineering faculty at McNair Hall. Dr. Kyle Shelton, Director of the Center for Transportation Studies, joined the exchange and participated in a tour of CR2C2’s autonomous vehicle testing and development facilities.
A working lunch and networking session allowed for deeper conversations among faculty, students, and researchers. In the early afternoon, North Carolina A&T students presented their own transportation-focused research during a poster session, offering a glimpse into the next generation of innovators.
The day culminated in a featured seminar highlighting research from University of Minnesota scholars, including:
Dr. Raphael Stern – Mixed-Autonomy Traffic Flow: Exploring how human-driven and autonomous vehicles can collaborate to improve traffic efficiency.
Dr. Michael Levin – Shared AV Dispatch Optimization: Modeling the logistics and opportunities of managing shared autonomous vehicle fleets.
Dr. Seongjin Choi – Generative AI in Traffic Operations: Demonstrating how AI can be used to predict, manage, and optimize traffic systems.
Dr. Alireza Khani – Post-COVID Transit Trends & Solutions: Analyzing how transit agencies can respond to changing demands and promote accessibility-driven innovation.
These talks emphasized the critical role of generative AI, real-time modeling, and shared mobility networks in building sustainable, efficient, and equitable transportation systems.
If you missed the event or would like to revisit the presentations, the full seminar is available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/EMNjbout07o
This event was made possible through the support of the Research and Innovation Office (RIO) at the University of Minnesota as part of the UMN Research Partnership seed grant program. This initiative supports the development of collaborative research between UMN and N.C. A&T researchers. Read more about the partnership here: UMN–N.C. A&T Research Collaboration
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