C-TIER · University of Memphis
The Memphis Regional Travel Survey (MRTS) uses the OpenPATH platform to collect anonymous travel data that helps planners improve roads, transit, and mobility options for everyone.
Enroll Now
Scan the QR code or use the join code below.
Scan the QR Code in the OpenPATH app to join
Text Code
Survey Join Code
Step-by-Step
Watch the video below to see how to get started — download the OpenPATH app, enter the join code, and begin recording your trips.
Closed captions available — use the video player's CC button. A full transcript is available upon request at mrts@memphis.edu.
📱 How to Join — OpenPATH Tutorial
Earn a Reward
Take the survey and record your trips for one full week using the OpenPATH app. A $20 gift card will be awarded to the first 200 participants who complete the study.
Install OpenPATH on iOS or Android and join the MRTS study.
Let the app run for one week as you travel normally around Memphis.
Email your generated OpenPATH Op Code to the research team using the form below.
After completing your week of travel data, find your generated Op Code in the OpenPATH app and submit it below. This confirms your participation and begins the gift card process.
Your submission will be emailed to the research team at ngadham@memphis.edu.
Make a Difference
Every trip you record helps transportation planners understand how people really move across the region — making the data more accurate and the improvements more targeted.
🎥 Why Participation Matters
Your travel data directly informs decisions about transportation infrastructure, and mobility investments across the Memphis region.
Your personal identity is never shared. OpenPATH collects only trip patterns — not your name, address, or contact information.
OpenPATH is designed to have a very low impact on your phone's battery and data usage.
More participants mean more representative data, helping ensure transportation improvements reflect the needs of communities across the region.
In the Community
C-TIER connects with the community through events, demonstrations, and partnerships—making transportation research engaging, accessible, and relevant to everyone.
Our People
The MRTS is led by a multidisciplinary team of transportation researchers and data scientists.
Principal Investigator
Professor & Director, C-TIER
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Memphis
Co-Investigator
Vice President, Travel Demand Analytics
Caliper Corporation
Platform & Technology
Researcher III – NEX Decision Support Analysis
Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences
Transportation & Mobility Research · OpenPATH
Graduate Research Assistant
Doctoral Researcher, C-TIER
University of Memphis
Graduate Research Assistant
Doctoral Researcher, C-TIER
University of Memphis
Common Questions
The MRTS is a research study led by C-TIER at the University of Memphis that uses the OpenPATH app to collect anonymous travel pattern data. The goal is to help transportation planners understand how people move around the region.
Yes. OpenPATH collects only your travel patterns (trip times, modes, and routes). Your name, home address, and contact details are never shared with any third party. All data is anonymized before analysis.
Participants are asked to use the app for approximately one week, though you may continue contributing longer if you wish. The app runs passively in the background — you don't need to do anything after setup.
OpenPATH is designed to minimize battery and data usage. Most participants report negligible impact on their phone's battery life during normal daily use.
All residents across the Memphis region who are 18 years and older and own a smartphone (iOS or Android) are eligible to participate.
OpenPATH can automatically detect driving, walking, cycling, and public transit trips. You can also manually log or correct trip modes in the app.
Download OpenPATH from the App Store or Google Play, then visit nrelopenpath://join?study_config=mrts&sub_group=test or scan the QR code at the top of this page.
Use the contact form below, or call our study hotline. A C-TIER team member will respond within 1–2 business days.
Get in Touch
Institution
Center for Transportation Innovations in Education and Research (C-TIER)
University of Memphis
Study Platform
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The Memphis Regional Travel Survey is conducted under IRB-approved protocols by the University of Memphis. All trip data collected through the OpenPATH platform is anonymized and used solely for transportation planning research. No personally identifiable information is sold or shared with commercial third parties.
OpenPATH is developed and maintained by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Full privacy details are available within the OpenPATH app and at the survey enrollment page.
App Store (iOS)
Google Play (Android)
