RPI was established in Troy, NY in 1824. It has the oldest program in Civil Engineering in the English-speaking world. Today the university has 7,000 students and schools of Architecture, Engineering, Humanities, Management, and Science.

RPI provides regional, national, and international leadership in research relating to intelligent transportation systems, transportation modeling, traffic operations, intermodal freight transportation, transportation economics, and analytical approaches to emergency management. RPI is home to two centers – (i) Center for Infrastructure and Transportation Studies; and (ii) Intermodal Center for Freight Security which emphasizes different aspects of research and education in transportation modeling.

RPI is also home to the Lighting Research Center, the leading university-based research center devoted to lighting.The center conducts research, education, and training programs in the full range of lighting issues and technologies. The LRC has a dedicated Transportation Lighting Group that is committed to explore lighting and visibility issues associated with transportation. This includes research and educational programs in such disciplines as optical design, photometry, human factors, vision, product testing, and market assessment. Currently, the transportation lighting group's main focus is the roadway visibility system. The LRC takes a unique approach to examining roadway visibility by considering all elements; vehicle lighting, fixed roadway lighting, and signal and marking devices, separately and as an interactive system. Through the Transportation Lighting Alliance, the LRC partners with industry market players, standard-setting organizations, and government.

RPI is also home to the Center for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Environment, which vision is to become a national and international leader in research, education, outreach, and technology transfer in the areas of infrastructure, transportation, and their linkages to the environment.