In order to promote research and development in highway related activities in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, the Transportation Technology Transfer Center was created on April 1, 1986 in the Civil Engineering and Surveying Department of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus.

The Center is one of 57 centers throughout the United States under the Local Technical Assistance Program. The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center program provides service and technical information to local officials of the 78 municipalities, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works and the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works.

The Center activities and operations expenses are funded by several sources: Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands Department of Public Works. The Puerto Rico Transportation Technology Transfer Center is evolving with new ideas and initiatives such as sponsoring the following student research programs: the UPR/PUPR/ATI Professional Development Program; the Tren Urbano UPR-MIT Professional Development Program and the Engineering Programs in Community Service. The Center is committed to start and support distance learning programs and have our first group of graduates from our new road scholar program.