The Centre was established in 1998 as a collaboration between three State transport agencies (Queensland Transport, Main Roads and Queensland Rail) to contribute to integrated and sustainable transport by undertaking research, providing professional development, collating transport related data, providing contract research and consulting services and developing policies in transport strategy.

The University provides undergraduate and postgraduate transportation engineering programs and undertakes leading edge research in transport strategy and advanced transportation technology.

The Centre's focus areas include transport policy development, integrated transport planning, sustainable transport, intelligent transportation systems, public transport, transport economics, road safety, traffic and incident management, logistics and freight transport and environmental impacts of transport.

The primary objective of the Centre is to be a centre of excellence in transport strategy, planning and management and contribute to more integrated and sustainable transport by:

  - undertaking, evaluating and promoting innovative, cross-disciplinary research and development

  - developing and advancing opportunities for joint ventures in research and development, training and the provision of professional services

  - raising the profile of transport strategy, planning and management among researchers, government and industry

  - developing appropriately skilled professionals for the transport sector