Transportation leaders turn to Cambridge Systematics for strategic planning, policy analysis, and management advice. We are known for our ability to develop innovative and sound solutions to address complex transportation issues, present and future. Through long-term partnerships with our clients - including the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), state departments of transportation (DOT), and metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) - we have influenced the development of effective transportation policies and helped design and implement effective management solutions throughout the United States and around the world.

Transportation Policy As the volume of passengers and goods moving across our aging infrastructure accelerates, the complexity of transportation planning, policy-setting, and decision-making is increasing. Transportation is no longer purely a matter of traffic; short- and long-term investments and benefits must be weighed, freight and passenger needs balanced, and the pressures of land use, environmental impact, and economic competitiveness considered. Cambridge Systematics is recognized for innovative and objective guidance to our clients in this intricate landscape. We offer a full range of research, policy development, strategic planning, and management consulting services to help transportation leaders deliver the most value today and in the future.  Corridor & Systems Planning Effective transportation systems planning at the state, corridor, and local levels is key to mobility, economic development, public safety, community satisfaction, and environmental stewardship. Cambridge Systematics takes a multidisciplinary approach to corridor and systems planning, often applying a range of expertise in analysis, forecasting, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Our projects have included major investment studies, analysis of economic impacts, and feasibility studies for highways, freight, and public transit.  Freight Systems & Intermodal Planning Freight mobility is an increasingly important issue to states and regions that are concerned with economic development and market competitiveness. For more than 20 years, Cambridge Systematics has been a leader in articulating and addressing the challenges of managing freight transportation. From formulation of national freight policies with the U.S. DOT and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) to the development of freight plans and models for dozens of states, MPOs, and local agencies, we understand how to balance competing demands for mobility, safety, and security.

Transit Cambridge Systematics is a leader in transit planning and project development, with demonstrated expertise in ridership forecasting, New Starts project development, transit market research, strategic planning, and analysis of the economic and financial impacts of transit investments. Our staff help plan, evaluate, and implement transit services in a variety of settings, including conventional and high-speed rail, local and intercity bus, bus rapid transit, commuter rail, light-rail, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities, new technologies, special activity centers, transit-oriented development (TOD), and special purpose services. We have the technical expertise and institutional experience needed to bring a transit project from concept to reality.   Economic Analysis Cambridge Systematics is nationally recognized for our depth of experience in evaluating the economic impacts, value, and long-term benefits of transportation policies, programs, and projects. We have developed a number of the Federal government's primary economic analysis tools for the transportation industry, many of them employed by hundreds of transportation executives at the state, regional, and local levels. For more than 30 years, our projects have addressed every mode of transportation, and have supported better decisions on infrastructure improvements and investments, operational enhancements, and pricing strategies.  Transportation Finance Cambridge Systematics has been at the forefront of transportation finance for decades. Our research has resulted in nationally-publicized findings on transportation funding gaps and our revenue proposals will inform future transportation legislation. We apply this extensive national perspective to the state and local levels to guide transportation organizations in quantifying and understanding their own investment needs and funding capacity issues. Our work has helped articulate the urgent funding problems facing both the nation and localities, providing a catalyst for Federal response as well as action by state legislatures. Because we understand the risk and return criteria of private investors and the institutional constraints faced by public agencies, Cambridge Systematics is able to forge consensus and cooperation among diverse private firms and public agencies.