Spotlight

  • Dr. John Renne featured in NewPublicHealth.org blog
    UNOTI Director Dr. John Renne has been featured in NewPublicHealth.org, a public health news and discussion forum from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that explores the intersection between transportation, health and quality of life. NewPublicHealth caught up with Dr. Renne at the American Public Transportation Association's annual meeting (held earlier this month in New Orleans), to discuss the economic impacts and other community benefits of continued investment in rail passenger transportation in the region.
  • New book addresses lessons learned from Katrina and Rita
    Six years after Hurricane Katrina and we've learned some lessons the hard way here in New Orleans. Now, all over the world people are using those lessons to better prepare themselves for natural disasters. And they can learn more from the new book, "Resilience and Opportunity: Lessons from the US Gulf Coast after Katrina and Rita." Contributor and UNO Professor of Planning and Urban Studies, Doctor John Renne, talked to Eyewitness Morning News Monday about the book.
     

Director's Welcome

Welcome to the Merritt C. Becker Jr. University of New Orleans Transportation Institute (UNOTI).  As a designated U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Center, our faculty, staff and students are leaders in creating a sustainable transportation system, including all modes of passenger and freight transportation.

Our core expertise includes policy for sustainable, resilient and safe transport systems. specifically relating to maritime and port planning, transit planning, and especially to streetcar systems, walking, bicycling and transit oriented development.  The New Orleans Regional Planning Commission has designated us as the leaders for the Pedestrian and Bicycle Resource Initiative. In addition, we chair the City of New Orleans Sustainable Transportation Advisory Committee. UNOTI is an expert resource in evacuation planning, especially for carless and vulnerable populations and, as such, a founding partner and co-host of the National Evacuation Conference.

UNOTI offers Research, Professional Outreach and Education programs.  Students can pursue transportation studies through a variety of graduate degree programs including an interdisciplinary Ph.D., an accredited Master of Urban and Regional Planning, or a Master of Urban Studies within our affiliated Department of Planning and Urban Studies (PLUS).  Undergraduate offerings in PLUS also include a Bachelor of Urban Studies and UNOTI will soon offer a Bachelor of Science in Transportation Studies,  which is currently pending approval by the Louisiana Board of Regents.

UNOTI has played an instrumental role in the recovery of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.  We are leading contributors to local, regional, national and international sponsored research projects and our faculty and staff serve on many professional boards and organizations, including the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.

The passion and hard work of our team is helping our city and nation in “Moving to a Sustainable Future.”

Sincerely,

Dr. John L. Renne, Ph.D., AICP
Director and Associate Professor