Similarly, the mission statement commits the Institute to a high ideal:

The mission of the Institute is:

1. Unite the disciplines of planning, design, construction, operations, maintenance, and research in support of sustainable transportation and development;

2. Provide communication , education, and collaboration to enhance the professional knowldge, and skills of its members so that they may help to improve the quality of life;

3. Bring together engineers, planners, industry representatives, citizen groups, developers, public officials, and others dedicated to improving transportation, and fostering appropriate development decisions at the local, regional, state, national, and international levels;

4. Advance the state-of-the-art and state-of the-practice; and

5. Enhance the welfare and status of transportation and development professionals.