transportation consists of private owned bus companies that pick up and drop off over a specific route. These cover 123 authorized routes all neighborhoods of the city. There are also conventional taxis. The city also has a large inter-city bus terminal. Air The Querétaro International Airport began operations in 2004, replacing the old Ing. Fernando Espinoza Gutiérrez International Airport in the city. The airport handles passengers and freight of both transport and private airplanes, and in recent years became of the fastest growing airports in Mexico in terms of passengers. Plans to convert the old airport into an international one began in 1999, after studies indicated the need for such. Construction of infrastructure began in 2002. Education and research The city and its surroundings are home to some of the most important universities in Mexico. The most prestigious universities in Mexico, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the Universidad Anáhuac and the ITESM (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey), have set campuses at the outskirts where significant research is carried out. UNAM is a public institution and the Universidad Anáhuac and the ITESM-Querétaro are private. The Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro (founded in 1625 as College of St. Ignatious of Loyola. It's the largest and most important university in the state. It ranked 3rd in the Times Higher Education magazine) Instituto Tecnológico de Querétaro. Universidad del Valle de México Universidad Anáhuac Universidad Contemporánea Universidad TecMilenio, Campus Querétaro Universidad del Golfo de México, Campus Querétaro Universidad Politecnica de Querétaro Universidad Cuauhtémoc Universidad Univer-Aliat Escuela Bancaria y Comercial Universidad Corregidora de Querétaro Universidad Veracruzana Universidad del Valle de Atemajac Universidad Marista Escuela Normal del Estado Centro de Estudios Universitarios Londres Universidad Liceo Universidad Tecnológica de Querétaro Universidad Nacional Aeronáutica en Querétaro Instituto Gastronómico y de Estudios Superiores Centro de Estudios en Ciencias de la Comunicación Centro de Formación de Recursos de Enfermería de Querétaro Instituto Tecnológico de la Construcción Centro de Estudios Odontológicos Centro Universitario Andamaxei Centro de Estudios Superiores del Bajio Universidad Interamericana del Norte Colegio Universitario De Humanidades Universidad Metropolitana Latina Centro de Estudios de Posgrado en Salud Mental Universidad CNCI Colegio Universitario de Formación Empresarial, Querétaro Universidad Internacional de Querétaro Centro de Investigación en Ciencia Applicada y Tecnología avanzada (part of the IPN) CUDH Also, the city is home to more than seven research centers. Among the most important are CIATEQ, CIDESI and CIDETEQ. There are also several