History and John A. Volpe
The Volpe Center was established in 1970 to provide analytical, scientific, and engineering support to the newly established U.S. Department of Transportation. From the beginning, the Center was envisioned as a place where a broad range of skills could be focused on major issues that cut across the traditional modal structure of the transportation enterprise.
Housed on the campus of NASA's former Electronics Research Center, the Center opened as the Transportation Systems Center thanks to growing congressional awareness of the need to apply advanced technology to national transportation problems and the efforts of then-U.S. Secretary of Transportation John A. Volpe, as well as those of the Massachusetts congressional delegation. In 1990, the Center was renamed in John A. Volpe's honor.
In the three decades since the Volpe Center was established, we have addressed major national and international transportation issues related to safety, security, environment, mobility, and economic growth and trade. By applying our unique combination of technical knowledge and expertise, we work to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and responsiveness of our clients in carrying out their missions to transport people and goods safely and efficiently.
