UCLA graduate student Nick Giorgio MURP ’25 has been named a recipient of the Council of University Transportation Centers’ (CUTC) Neville A. Parker Award, marking the fourth consecutive year a UCLA student has earned the national honor. The award, presented Jan. 10 in Washington, D.C., recognizes outstanding master’s research in transportation, and Giorgio’s win brings UCLA’s total recipients to 15 since 2002.

“This award means a great deal to me, especially considering how strong many of the other capstone projects were,” Giorgio said. “It was a tough competition.”

Giorgio earned the recognition for his capstone project, Intersection Traffic Calming Treatments: A Comparative Analysis, which evaluated residential intersection improvements across Los Angeles in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation. Examining more than 30 intersections, Giorgio analyzed how all-way stop controls, traffic circles, and mini-roundabouts affect vehicle speeds and safety outcomes. His findings emphasize that context and design matter—and that no single solution fits every neighborhood.

“Roads are the largest share of public space in Los Angeles, and how we design them reflects our values,” Giorgio said, underscoring the link between traffic safety, equity, and livability.

Faculty advisor Brian Taylor praised the work’s practical impact, noting, “Nick’s analysis brings much-needed clarity to the question of what types of intersection treatments actually make neighborhoods safer.”

Read the full Institutes for Transportation Studies article on UCLA student Nick Giorgio’s national transportation award.