A team of University of Utah Civil & Environmental Engineering (CvEEN) students represented the U at the 2025 Transportation Technology Tournament (TTT), earning recognition as one of the top three teams in the nation. The competition was held during the 2025 ITE International Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida, providing an outstanding opportunity for the team to showcase the University of Utah to transportation professionals from around the world.

Led by Ph.D. student Fengze Yang, the Utah team advanced to the national finals after being selected among the top three teams in the country. In Orlando, they presented their project to a panel of USDOT and ITE judges, where their performance was praised as professional, polished, and highly competitive.

While the University of Michigan ultimately took home first place, organizers noted that the U’s team was neck-and-neck in the final decision, with judges calling it a “very close call.”

“This experience gave us valuable exposure to USDOT and ITE members, and it sets a strong foundation for the future,” said Fengze. “The competition gave us an excellent opportunity to showcase the University of Utah and ourselves to ITE professionals from around the world.”

The team was composed of six Ph.D. students from both the University of Utah and Monash University: Fengze Yang, Bo Yu, Hung-Po Cheng (who delivered the presentation in Orlando), and Xuewen Luo, Shouzheng Pan, and Bingkun Chen (Monash), who made significant contributions though were unable to attend in person.

They credited much of their success to strong mentorship and support. Faculty advisors Dr. Cathy Liu and Dr. Chenxi (Dylan) Liu, along with Mark Taylor (public agency mentor from UDOT) and Laurie Matkowski (VP and Planning Practice Leader at GFT, and longtime ITE supporter), provided invaluable guidance throughout the competition.

Faculty advisor Dr. Cathy Liu praised the group’s preparation and professionalism:

“The judges had a tough decision to make, and it was clear how much effort the Utah team put into their work. They proved they can stand out at the national level.”

The TTT, hosted by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office and ITE, is designed to give students practical, hands-on experience in solving complex transportation challenges, while connecting them with professionals shaping the future of mobility.

The CvEEN team’s achievement underscores the department’s growing presence in cutting-edge transportation research and education.