William and Barbara Leonard Transportation Center

About the LTC

Transportation plays a major role in the Inland Empire of Southern California, and the William and Barbara Leonard Transportation Center is the voice for an integrated and sustainable transportation system in our region. The Inland Empire is an inland port region expected to grow exponentially in the transportation sector. The region, with informed decisions, can use this growth to develop a strong economic base. Our focal points include transportation management, the impacts of technology on transportation and logistics, and transnational studies. Research influences our education initiatives and community outreach efforts, which in turn substantiate policy produced by the LTC. The Center seeks solutions to assist residents, businesses, government and nonprofit agencies, and international partners work together on improving sustainability and life in the Inland Empire.

What's New at the LTC 

2025 Transportation Leadership Policy Forum 

Inland Empire Must Take These Steps As Big Trucks Ditch Diesel

 Download Here

LTC Call For 2024 Faculty Research Fellowships

 The Leonard Transportation Center Faculty Fellowship program recognizes and supports nontenured and tenured faculty in the Inland Empire (IE) region to conduct transportation-related research in the IE. The one-year fellowship provides a stipend up to $10,000 per faculty member team. Two faculty members could join together as a team and obtain $20,000 in funding to conduct a joint research project. Funds can be used for summer stipend, course release (with approval from department chair and college dean), conference travel, materials, and student support. The LTC plans to provide fellowships to two faculty members for the 2024- 25 year.

Faculty Research Fellowships Application

Current Grants

Student Research Presentations

Learn more about this year's LTC Student Research Challenge

The Leonard Family

The Leonard name comes from William E. and Barbara Leonard, San Bernardino residents, business owners, and philanthropists. William “Bill” E. Leonard served on several organization boards and on the California Transportation Commission. To this day their accomplishments still benefit the Inland Empire, and the Leonard Transportation Center continues their commitment to education and transportation issues. In 2006, CSUSB named the new federally funded university transportation center in honor of the Leonard family. The William and Barbara Leonard Transportation Center considers how the larger aspects of globalization impact the local needs of the Inland Empire. Since the Inland Empire acts as an inland port, this Center balances transnational and local policy studies and solutions to improve life and commerce in the Inland Empire.

William E. Leonard History Archives

Over the years, Mr. Leonard's civic leadership has included chairing the California Highway Commission (1973-77) and the California Transportation Commission (CTC, 1985-93). He had a strong presence in the National Orange Show, serving as its president in 1966. He was also a member of the State Athletic Commission and the University of California at Riverside Foundation.

In addition to being a member of the State Athletic Commission , he chaired the San Bernardino Valley College Foundation Board and served as a trustee of the St. Bernardine's Hospital Foundation. He was an active member in the community and took part in a number of other local boards and charities.

Mr. Leonard had a multitude of accomplishments and his legacy lives on through the Leonard Transportation Center. To learn more about his life's work, click the link below to access his historical documents.