The Riverside Campus, located only a few miles from TTI Headquarters, was formerly the site of a U.S. Air Force Base. This expansive facility is one of only two university-based centers of its kind in the United States where researchers perform product testing for clients from across the country, as well as test new TTI-developed roadside safety devices. An expanse of paved runways is ideally suited to perform full-scale testing of safety designs. Roadside devices, crash cushions, and barrier systems undergo the substantial testing that is required before field installations. The size of the facility provides realistic conditions for crash testing and friction pavement testing. Crash tests are conducted using a wide spectrum of vehicles, from subcompacts and three-quarter-ton truck to 80,000-pound tractor-trailer rigs. Other facilities include:
- a hydroplaning trough for studying the phenomenon of vehicle hydroplaning,
- a test track of 3.5 miles that permits simulation of freeway traffic conditions at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour, and
- special pads designed for conducting tire skid tests on road surfaces of various textures.