The Transportation Research Institute (TRI) began operating in October 1977 as an autonomous research unit at the Technion. The Institute serves as a center for research activities of faculty members from various academic units in the broad area of transportation. The Institute functions as a framework for cooperation on transportation topics among the Technion units. Research at the institute is funded mainly by government agencies and is aimed at solving problems of national importance in the areas of road safety, traffic control, road infrastructure, transportation planning, and related energy and environment issues.