The University of Kansas Transportation Research Institute (KUTRI) fosters cross-disciplinary research into emerging transportation issues that have broad societal significance. KUTRI provides an organizational framework that focuses on current and future research opportunities aimed at transportation design, evaluation and application as an integrated, functional process.

The KUTRI draws upon campus researchers and graduate students from a variety of disciplines, colleagues from other Universities, and public transportation entities. The Institute seeks research endeavors that encompass design, demonstration, analysis, and evaluation. The KUTRI fulfills a special role as a center of expertise at a public institution: it offers workshops and conferences, manages an active publication program, and cooperates with industry and government on various public education endeavors.