Projects
TESPA: Transportation Engineering Student Project Area
The TESPA serves as a center of transportation innovation on campus. Thanks to the generosity of the College of Engineering, the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and several donors and sponsors, Cal Poly's transportation students have a place to create projects they're passionate about. Check out our newsletter for student research projects, or scroll down the list below to see what we've been up to.
We're always looking to address real-world problems and partner alongside firms, agencies, and other universities. Please contact us at [email protected] with suggestions or questions!
The TESPA serves as a center of transportation innovation on campus. Thanks to the generosity of the College of Engineering, the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and several donors and sponsors, Cal Poly's transportation students have a place to create projects they're passionate about. Check out our newsletter for student research projects, or scroll down the list below to see what we've been up to.
We're always looking to address real-world problems and partner alongside firms, agencies, and other universities. Please contact us at [email protected] with suggestions or questions!
James H. Kell Award / Competition
Cal Poly ITE students submitted and won a proposal to design and produce a board game, Freight Forward, for student attendees to play at the 2026 Western District Annual Meeting.
The game was themed around multimodal freight transportation in the Seattle area, and aimed to promote cooperation, discussion, and problem-solving between students on the first day of the conference.
Cal Poly ITE students submitted and won a proposal to design and produce a board game, Freight Forward, for student attendees to play at the 2026 Western District Annual Meeting.
The game was themed around multimodal freight transportation in the Seattle area, and aimed to promote cooperation, discussion, and problem-solving between students on the first day of the conference.
Western District Data Collection Project
Each year, Cal Poly ITE submits a proposal for a data collection or STEM outreach project to the Western District’s Data Collection Fund. This year, Cal Poly ITE successfully submitted and executed a proposal to study trip generation and parking demand at the SLO branch of SESLOC, a local credit union. 12 students and 1 professional mentor volunteered for a total of 48 hours across 3 days to record data in-person at the branch. Students also submitted a report to ITE to help build on existing knowledge about the trip generation and parking behavior of walk-in banks.
Project advising is provided by Dr. Anurag Pande.
Data collection funds help our Chapter make its way to the Western District Annual Meetings each year!
Each year, Cal Poly ITE submits a proposal for a data collection or STEM outreach project to the Western District’s Data Collection Fund. This year, Cal Poly ITE successfully submitted and executed a proposal to study trip generation and parking demand at the SLO branch of SESLOC, a local credit union. 12 students and 1 professional mentor volunteered for a total of 48 hours across 3 days to record data in-person at the branch. Students also submitted a report to ITE to help build on existing knowledge about the trip generation and parking behavior of walk-in banks.
Project advising is provided by Dr. Anurag Pande.
Data collection funds help our Chapter make its way to the Western District Annual Meetings each year!
Interdistrict Transportation Competition
Cal Poly ITE students participated in the second annual ITC held at UC Davis, putting together a report and presentation on a proposal to improve active transportation facilities on 2nd St in downtown Davis. Students researched parking and other existing infrastructure in the area, evaluated multiple options, and used Civil3D to produce a final design and exhibits depicting changes to the site.
Final Result - 4th Place
Cal Poly ITE students participated in the second annual ITC held at UC Davis, putting together a report and presentation on a proposal to improve active transportation facilities on 2nd St in downtown Davis. Students researched parking and other existing infrastructure in the area, evaluated multiple options, and used Civil3D to produce a final design and exhibits depicting changes to the site.
Final Result - 4th Place
Traffic Bowl
Cal Poly has a traffic bowl team that competes every year at the Western District Annual Meeting. The three member team and alternate are selected through consensus in spring and prepare for the annual meeting in the summer. The traffic bowl team has competed well since its resurrection, always placing in the top three of the Western District.
In 2012 the team won the ITE Western District Annual Meeting Traffic Bowl in Santa Barbara, California and competed at the ITE International Annual Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.
In 2015, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo saw a victory at the Western District level again in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team moved on to compete at the International Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Florida, and emerged the victors!
In 2016, the traffic bowl team successfully defended their title at the Western District Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And after narrowly qualifying for the final round at the International Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, Cal Poly took an admiral second place.
In 2022, our team competed at the Western District Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, California and won the Traffic Bowl!
Cal Poly has a traffic bowl team that competes every year at the Western District Annual Meeting. The three member team and alternate are selected through consensus in spring and prepare for the annual meeting in the summer. The traffic bowl team has competed well since its resurrection, always placing in the top three of the Western District.
In 2012 the team won the ITE Western District Annual Meeting Traffic Bowl in Santa Barbara, California and competed at the ITE International Annual Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska.
In 2015, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo saw a victory at the Western District level again in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team moved on to compete at the International Annual Meeting in Hollywood, Florida, and emerged the victors!
In 2016, the traffic bowl team successfully defended their title at the Western District Annual Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And after narrowly qualifying for the final round at the International Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, Cal Poly took an admiral second place.
In 2022, our team competed at the Western District Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, California and won the Traffic Bowl!
Traffic Counts, Speed Surveys, & More!
In February 2015, the Student Chapter partnered with a local traffic firm by providing traffic counting services in return for a donation to the club’s general fund. Students were sent out across several time frames to measure peak hour intersection turning movements and compile the resulting data.
In January 2016, the Student Chapter partnered with the University Police Department to complete speed surveys around the Cal Poly campus. The Student Chapter enlisted the bright minds of the Fundamentals of Transportation Engineering Lab, introducing students to the importance of traffic safety and providing a service to our campus. Data were then processed and drafted into a professional report.
In February 2015, the Student Chapter partnered with a local traffic firm by providing traffic counting services in return for a donation to the club’s general fund. Students were sent out across several time frames to measure peak hour intersection turning movements and compile the resulting data.
In January 2016, the Student Chapter partnered with the University Police Department to complete speed surveys around the Cal Poly campus. The Student Chapter enlisted the bright minds of the Fundamentals of Transportation Engineering Lab, introducing students to the importance of traffic safety and providing a service to our campus. Data were then processed and drafted into a professional report.