A white rose in a glass vase on a round table with a 75th anniversary celebration sign in a decorated hall.

TTI Celebrates 75 Years of Innovation in Transportation

On June 6, 2025, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) marked its 75th anniversary, celebrating decades of progress, collaboration and innovation in the field of transportation.

This milestone not only honored TTI’s legacy of research and impact but also marked a renewed commitment to advancing transportation systems across Texas and the nation. The celebration recognized how far the Institute has come since its founding and reaffirmed the core belief that transportation connects people, communities and opportunity.

TTI’s roots trace back to visionary leaders of the 1950s — such as DeWitt C. Greer, Gibb Gilchrist and Thomas H. MacDonald — pioneers whose influence shaped TTI into the respected institution it is today. For 75 years, TTI has been dedicated to improving transportation safety, efficiency and planning. From groundbreaking research to real-world implementation, TTI has played a pivotal role in shaping transportation policy and infrastructure.

TTI Agency Director Greg Winfree addresses the audience during the 75th Anniversary celebration

Gregory D. Winfree, TTI agency director, emphasized that TTI’s research and implementation efforts have been instrumental in delivering the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance road safety, ease traffic congestion and elevate the everyday experiences of Texans.

“TTI has always been at the forefront of developing and testing transformative transportation solutions,” said Winfree. “Our research has touched nearly every mile of roadways in Texas, enhancing both safety and efficiency.”

Collaboration has always been at the heart of TTI’s mission. TTI’s long-standing partnerships with agencies and organizations across the state have played a crucial role in enhancing public safety and building a more efficient, interconnected transportation system.

Speakers at the celebration included Kelly Templin, former executive director of Texas A&M-RELLIS; Brandye Hendrickson, deputy executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT); Robert Albritton, chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents; and Glenn Hegar, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. Each shared a personal connection to transportation — specifically, the role TTI’s past work has played in their lives.

Chancellor Greg Hegar addresses the crowd during TTI’s 75th Anniversary Celebration.

“Whether it’s at TTI, here at the Texas A&M University System, in partnership with TxDOT or other transportation folks — not just here but across Texas and across the nation — we are having direct impacts every single day and every single moment of those days,” said Hegar. “That impact is remarkable.”

As TTI looks to the future, this celebration will serve as both a recognition of past accomplishments and a recommitment to the mission of building smarter, safer and more efficient transportation systems for generations to come.