Polytechnic University, the nation’s second oldest private engineering university, was founded in 1854 in Brooklyn, New York. Today, it is the New York metropolitan area's preeminent resource in science and technology education and research. Polytechnic has a distinguished history in electrical engineering, polymer chemistry and aerospace and microwave engineering. Currently, it is a leader in telecommunications, information science and technology management. It is also a leader in the development of approaches to online learning.

In the transportation field, Polytechnic has strengths in Traffic Models, Highway Capacity and Traffic Operations, and Intelligent Transportation Systems. It is home to the Urban ITS Center, funded by the New York City Department of Transportation.