A fundamental problem in multi-task learning (MTL) is identifying groups of tasks that should be learned together. Since training MTL models for all possible combinations of tasks is prohibitively expensive for large task sets, a crucial component of …

Public bus transit systems provide critical transportation services for large sections of modern communities. On-time performance and maintaining the reliable quality of service is therefore very important. Unfortunately, disruptions caused by …

Sequential decision-making in high-dimensional continuous action spaces, particularly in stochastic environments, faces significant computational challenges. We explore this challenge in the traditional offline RL setting, where an agent must learn …

The AI-Powered Autonomy-Aware Neighborhood Mobility Zones project reimagines public transportation for mid-sized U.S. cities through an AI-driven, multi-modal mobility framework that integrates fixed-line buses and on-demand microtransit into a single, responsive system. Led by the Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA) with technical contribution from the Pennsylvania State University, Vanderbilt University, and Cornell University, this $7 million initiative is designed to enhance infrastructure utilization, mobility access, and financial viability of public transit in Chattanooga while providing a national model for AI-enabled mobility resilience.

This Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC) Stage 1 project will perform research that attempts to address transportation challenges faced by residents and workers in rural areas around industrial hubs. Rapid economic growth in these areas demands efficient public transit systems that can serve a geographically dispersed workforce with strict arrival times. However, existing solutions often struggle with these unique requirements, leading to traffic congestion, pollution, and limited access to essential services for residents. This research project will develop and deploy a novel multi-modal transit system for Blue Oval City (BOC), a new rural industrial hub in Stanton, Tennessee. The system will combine fixed-line buses with on-demand micro-transit services, addressing the challenges posed by the geographically dispersed workforce and strict arrival times. Further, the project will design equitable fare structures to ensure that the system is sustainable for all stakeholders. If successful, the research will benefit communities around BOC by enhancing their access to employment opportunities, essential resources, and services, ultimately improving quality of life and community resilience. Furthermore, developing efficient and reliable transit can promote the growth of businesses in the surrounding areas and offer more affordable living options. The research findings and deliverables will be transferable to other rural industrial hubs across the nation, fostering economic development and improving public transportation infrastructure.

The rapid growth of urban populations and the increasing need for sustainable transportation solutions have prompted a shift towards electric buses in public transit systems. However, the effective management of mixed fleets consisting of both …

While on-demand ride-sharing services have become popular in recent years, traditional on-demand transit services cannot be used by everyone, e.g., wheelchair-bound people. Paratransit services, operated by public transit agencies, are a critical …

New rideshare and shared mobility services have transformed urban mobility in recent years. Such services have the potential to improve efficiency and reduce costs by allowing users to share rides in high-capacity vehicles and vans. Most transit …

An emergency responder management (ERM) system dispatches responders, such as ambulances, when it receives requests for medical aid. ERM systems can also proactively reposition responders between predesignated waiting locations to cover any gaps that …

Public bus transit systems provide critical transportation services for large sections of modern communities. On-time performance and maintaining the reliable quality of service is therefore very important. Unfortunately, disruptions caused by …