Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

Feasibility Of On-Demand Charging For Private Evs At The El Paso International Airport, Katerina Zizalova

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As electric vehicle adoption rate continues to grow globally and across the United States, it is desirable for airports to adapt to meet the needs of electric vehicle driving passengers. This thesis develops an implementation plan for an on-demand charging solution for the El Paso International Airport to address the current limitations in charging infrastructure. After analyzing the electric vehicle adoption trends, four charging solutions were studied: conventional fixed-point charging, fixed-point charging with added valet service, mobile charging service and wireless inductive charging. Using decision-making matrices implementing criteria such as operational suitability, scalability or costs, one charging solution was recommended …

Mash Crashworthiness Of Work Zone Devices And Breakaway Luminaire Poles, Mohammadreza Rajaee

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis presents a study on the crashworthiness of two commonly-used roadside safety devices: Type II barricades and luminaire poles supported by TB1-17 transformer bases. The first part focuses on designing and evaluating a non-proprietary, Type II barricade that meets MASH criteria. A validated LS-DYNA model, based on a previously-tested Type III barricade, was used to guide the design. The proposed Type II system was evaluated through simulation and confirmed with full-scale crash testing. The second part of the study investigates luminaire poles supported by the TB1-17 transformer base. A previously-developed LS-DYNA model was updated and validated using test No. …

Development Of Timber Bridge Railing And Approach Guardrail Transition, Aaron Lechtenberger

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Timber bridges with transverse and longitudinal bridge decks are increasingly utilized across the United States. However, limited research exists to develop bridge railing systems for high-service-level roadways that meet current vehicular impact safety standards. In response to this gap, the United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service -Forest Products Laboratory (USDA-FS-FPL), in collaboration with the Midwest Roadside Safety Facility (MwRSF), initiated a research program to develop, crash test, and evaluate higher-service-level bridge railings and approach guardrail transitions (AGTs) compliant with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH).

This study continued …

Barriers Individuals And Families Experience Utilizing Anti-Poverty Programs, Miranda C. Dube'

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This proposed study aims to explore the barriers experienced by residents of the High Desert communities. Using a quantitative method approach, the proposed research will employ surveys to provide a comprehensive understanding of the outcomes experienced by the High Desert residents. Participants will be selected within the High Desert communities, aged 18 years or older, who have or are currently experiencing poverty. The findings from this proposed study would contribute to bridging gaps in understanding the barriers residents of the High Desert experience. By identifying factors that suppress successfully utilizing anti-poverty programs, this research proposal would aim to inform the …

A Comprehensive Study Of Impacts Of “Q” Bus Rapid Transit System On Blackstone Avenue, Yertai Tanai, Kamil Ciftci

Mineta Transportation Institute

This study examines the dual impact of the Fresno Area Express (FAX) Q Line, a 15.7-mile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system launched in 2018, on the Fresno housing market and passenger satisfaction. The Q Line, designed to modernize public transit, features eco-friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, real-time passenger information, and improved service efficiency. Housing market analysis focused on residential properties sold between 2012 and 2024, utilizing Geographic Information System(GIS) mapping to segment properties into three regions: the Q Line corridor, an outer buffer zone, and the rest of Fresno. Results indicate no statistically significant increase in property values within …

Assessing Perceived Safety Of Non Motorized Travel With Virtual Reality, Vahid Balali, Sahand Fathi

Mineta Transportation Institute

Cycling is increasingly advocated as a healthier and more sustainable mode of transportation, as reflected in both scholarly literature and policy initiatives. Nonetheless, the escalation in bicyclist crash fatalities underscores deficiencies in extant roadway designs that inadequately safeguard these vulnerable users. A persistent challenge in the examination of bicyclist safety, behavior, and comfort is the paucity of comprehensive cycling data. To enhance understanding of cyclists' behavioral and physiological responses safely and efficiently, this investigation utilizes a bicycle simulator within an immersive virtual environment (IVE). Off-the-shelf sensors are employed to evaluate cyclists' performance metrics (speed and lane position) and physiological responses …

Best Metros For Manufacturing In The Mountain West, 2024, Taylor Volk, Sean Curry, Mohit Pande, Anirudh Polagani, Kristian Thymianos, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Transportation & Infrastructure

This fact sheet examines data on the top U.S. metros for manufacturing across four Mountain West states (Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada). The original report, titled “Best Metros for Manufacturing in the U.S.” by Commercial Search includes data on the top 100 U.S. metros for manufacturing.

El Transporte Público: Catalizador De Cambios Económicos Y Sociales, Nathan Wright

Best Integrated Writing

This paper is a comprehensive approach based on research, to a problem whose implications are the function of society itself. The trends, statistics, and problems are linked with an essay’s style that considers the situations of different types of people, from different social classes, professions and roles. The result is a scientific and human text –at the same time– full of evidence and suggested solutions for a better coexistence in a city that was a world leader in air transport. By comparing public transportation with that of other cities, through solid successive arguments, Nathan achieves an objective, convincing text, which …

Marjorie Barrick Museum Of Art, Zida Wang

Community Engagement Expo Research Posters

This poster presents Bus to Barrick, a museum education initiative at the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art that provides free access to arts-based learning experiences for students across the Clark County School District. Through funded transportation, guided exhibition tours, and hands-on workshops, the program removes barriers to museum participation and promotes creativity, critical thinking, and cultural engagement. The poster outlines program operations, participation data, educational outcomes, and future goals while demonstrating how university museums can support equitable access to arts education and strengthen connections between higher education institutions and local communities.

Geography Of Non-Daytime Work And Employer-Centered Transit Accessibility, Julia Mai Plotts

Dissertations and Theses

Non-daytime shift workers--including those on evening, night, rotating, and split shifts--face unique transportation challenges. Those who rely on public transit often contend with complicated commutes and longer wait times on public transit systems that have traditionally catered to the 9-to-5 workforce. Meanwhile, the non-daytime workforce is disproportionately composed of marginalized groups, including low-income workers, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals with fewer education credentials. For many lower-income workers, car ownership does not present a viable alternative, as cost-of-ownership consumes a significant portion of their income. This makes access to nighttime public transit a critical equity concern. However, most transit accessibility …

Modeling The Impacts Of Disruptive Events On Driving Behaviors, Transportation Safety, And Equity: Advanced Statistical Insights From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Xiaomeng Dong

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation aims to understand how disruptive events —particularly the COVID-19 pandemic—affect driving behaviors, transportation safety and equity by leveraging advanced statistical modeling techniques and data from Virginia. This research pursues three overarching objectives. First, it employs multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) to uncover the complex interrelationships among risky driving behaviors, injury severity, and pandemic-related factors, delineating the mechanisms through which COVID-19 has impacted crash outcomes via changing risky driving behaviors. Second, it leverages hidden Markov models to trace shifts in safety states over the pre-, during-, and post-pandemic periods, determining whether and when safety conditions return to pre-pandemic norms. …

Navigating Outsourced Manufacturing: General Motors' Strategic Challenges In Mexico, Alvaro Soler, Jose Maria Gallegos

Posters - 2025

Outsourcing manufacturing has become a strategic necessity for many global corporations in today’s fast-changing global economy. Over the past decades, many U.S. companies have outsourced production to regions like Latin America and China, seeking geographical advantages, lower labor costs, and access to skilled workforces to remain competitive. General Motors, one of the largest automobile manufacturers globally, exemplifies this trend. By outsourcing production to Mexico since 1935, GM highlights how multinational companies strategically use outsourcing to optimize costs and improve efficiency. Employing over 25,000 workers and contributing over 12% of its annual production in 2023, GM demonstrates the broader significance of …

Evaluation Of Long-Term Performance Of Transportation Earthworks Prone To Weather-Driven Deterioration Under Changing Climate, Amr Morsy, Emma Varela

Mineta Transportation Institute

Embankments are key transportation infrastructure features providing essential support for long, linear stretches of transportation infrastructure, including highways and railways, in California and globally. Clay embankments are susceptible to weather-related deterioration processes that can gradually compromise their stability and, in some cases, lead to unexpected failures. Climate change, along with the associated shifts in weather patterns, is projected to adversely impact weather-related deterioration processes, leading to exacerbated failures and/or shorter service life. This study evaluated the impact of climate change on the rate of weather-driven deterioration of embankments in two locations in California: Los Angeles and Sacramento. Specifically, a multi-phase …

Latent Active Transportation Methodology, Maria Chierichetti, Fatemeh Davoudi Kakhki

Mineta Transportation Institute

Understanding and estimating latent demand for active transportation, such as walking and cycling, is essential for designing infrastructure and policies that promote sustainable mobility. Unlike traditional demand models that focus on observed trips, latent demand estimation seeks to quantify the unrealized potential for active travel due to barriers such as inadequate infrastructure, safety concerns, or lack of connectivity. This study develops a comprehensive latent demand model tailored for California, integrating geospatial analysis and multimodal accessibility assessments. The methodology employs a GIS-based corridor analysis approach, utilizing spatial accessibility metrics and distance decay functions to evaluate potential demand. It incorporates employment and …

Revving Up Or Stalling Out? Examining The Effectiveness Of Electric Vehicles In Combating Climate Change, Meghan E. Miller Termat

Villanova Environmental Law Journal (1991 - )

No abstract provided.

Accessible Bike Map Design: A Review And Critique Of Portland’S Bike Maps, Zachary Cheyney

Geography Masters Research Papers

Urban bike maps can serve as key tools for route planning and navigation for prospective cyclists, providing both general information (such as landmarks and natural features) and cycling specific information (such as bike lane infrastructure types and cycling amenities). Despite this, there is little professional guidance or academic research on best practices for bike map design. Potential guidance should consider the full range of potential cyclists, including disabled cyclists who have often been left out of cycling policy discussions. In this paper, I begin by discussing 3 case studies on participatory mapping methodologies with disabled participants in order to generate …

Active Transportation Data Fusion: Incorporating Big Data To Estimate Volumes, Joeseph Broach, Sirisha Kothuri, Nathan Mcneil

PSU Transportation Seminars

Planners and decision-makers have increasingly voiced a need for network-wide estimates of bicycling and walking. Such volume estimates have for decades informed motorized planning and analysis but have only recently become feasible for non-motorized travel modes. Recently, new sources of activity data have emerged derived primarily from GPS-based smartphone location data, both app-based and passively collected. The project team has led several research projects aimed at evaluating and integrating the emerging sources with conventional demand data, including observed bicycle and pedestrian counts, to assess the value added of various emerging sources and the potential for estimating network-wide volumes. This presentation …

A Feedback-Guided Analysis Of Environmental, Health And Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Drivers’ Willingness To Shift To E-Jeepneys, Charlotte Kendra Gotangco Gonzales, Katrina Abenojar, Carlos Rosauro Manalo, Melliza Templonuevo Cruz, Maria Obiminda L. Cambaliza, James Bernard Simpas, Imee Delos Reyes, John Wong, Bernell Go, Krizelle Cleo Fowler, Rene Marlon Panti, Emma E. Porio, Jean Jardeleza Mijares

Environmental Science Faculty Publications

The Jeepney Modernization Program involves the replacement of traditional jeepneys with more efficient alternatives, including modern enclosed electric vehicles, alongside operational improvements to the public transportation system. This study aims to assess the environmental, health and socio-economic factors impacting drivers’ willingness to shift to e-jeepneys. Feedback-Guided Analysis was used as a framework for designing an interdisciplinary approach towards understanding the decision-making paradigms of drivers plying a specific route in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Measurements of drivers’ exposure to PM2.5 and associated health parameters were complemented by key informant interviews delving into income, expenses, valuation of benefits and decision-making paradigms. A …

Investigating The Conversion Of A Signalized Intersection To A Turbo Roundabout, Vyshnavi Shetty, Mycola Sauciur, Anurag Pande

Mineta Transportation Institute

Turbo roundabouts are multilane roundabouts with helical pavement markings and raised structures. While they have seen widespread use in Europe, California is only the second state in the U.S. (after Florida) to have installed a turbo roundabout. Turbo roundabouts separate the ingress and circulating roadways. The concept was proposed and implemented in the Netherlands to mitigate congestion by improving traffic flow efficiency and addressing safety concerns on conventional multilane roundabouts. This research evaluates the first-ever turbo roundabout in California and compares its safety and operational performance with the previously existing 4-legged signalized intersection. The research team obtained safety and operational …

Assessing The Perceived Safety Of Cyclists With Virtual Reality, Vahid Balali

Mineta Transportation Institute

In 2022, 7,522 pedestrians and 1,084 bicyclists were killed and approximately 67,000 pedestrians and 46,195 bicyclists injured in motor vehicle crashes on public roadways in the United States, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The transportation industry is faced with a pressing need to bolster the safety of these vulnerable road users. This research develops models of design and environmental factors that influence bicyclists’ and pedestrians’ perception of safety using Virtual Reality (VR) technology and ultimately informs transportation infrastructure design to better accommodate nonmotorized travelers. The goal of the bicycle element of this research is to develop …

Smart Highway Construction Site Monitoring Using Artificial Intelligence, Mehran Mazari, Yahaira Nava-Gonzalez, Ly Jacky N. Nhiayi, Mohamad H. Saleh

Mineta Transportation Institute

Construction is a large sector of the economy and plays a significant role in creating economic growth and national development,and construction of transportation infrastructure is critical. This project developed a method to detect, classify, monitor, and track objects during the construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of transportation infrastructure by using artificial intelligence and a deep learning approach. This study evaluated the performance of AI and deep learning algorithms to compare their performance in detecting and classifying the equipment in various construction scenes. Our goal was to find the optimized balance between the model capabilities in object detection and memory processing requirements. …

Beyond Congestion Pricing, Gregory H. Shill

Journal of Law and Mobility

After years of political and legal efforts to block it, congestion pricing finally went into effect in New York City in January 2025. Early indications are positive, though threats to its continuation from the Trump administration and others remain. But its journey to this point has already made one thing clear: it is time for the Big Apple to seize more of its own destiny in transportation policy.

The battles that delayed and still imperil the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s congestion pricing scheme underscore the need for policies that New York City can implement unilaterally. Making urban transportation policy in the …

Preventing Carbon Emissions With Imaging-Based Civil Infrastructure Assessment And Evaluation, Thomas Schumacher

PSU Transportation Seminars

For concrete bridges without existing plans, simplified and highly conservative load rating (structural evaluation) methods may be used, which can lead to unnecessary load restrictions, unjustifiable strengthening, or in the worst case, preventable replacements. Avoiding these outcomes not only saves money but it prevents carbon emissions from longer travel and construction activities and resources associated with replacement.

This presentation discusses a case study of a prestressed concrete bridge that required a load rating, and for which no plans existed. Imaging and image fusion using radar and ultrasonic measurements taken from the top and bottom of the slab were performed to …

Modernizing Railroad Crossings In Gettysburg, Paul Zaim

CAFE Symposium 2025

This project is an investigation of the current state of railroad crossings in the Borough of Gettysburg, including the physical state and shortcomings of each grade crossing. In addition, the project includes a proposal to improve the safety rating of the crossings through a legislative and traffic analysis, including the feasibility of implementing a “Quiet Zone” in the borough complete with an estimated cost breakdown.

Tolland Triangle Project, Garrett Bumps

CAFE Symposium 2025

The Tolland Triangle Project identifies the unique factors that increase the accident rate on a portion of I-84 in Tolland, Connecticut, and establishes an action plan to mitigate the issue. Despite past setbacks in this area, Tolland residents are ready for solutions, and this advocacy plan enables citizens to have their voices heard, and seek solutions from their government on a city, state, and federal level.

Why Are Fairness Concerns So Important? Lessons From A Last-Mile Transportation System, Yiwei Chen, Hai Wang

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The Last-Mile Problem refers to the provision of travel service for passengers from the nearest public transportation node to the final destination. The Last-Mile Transportation System (LMTS), which has recently emerged, provides on-demand last-mile transportation service for passengers. We consider an LMTS that consists of two types of passengers, regular-type passengers and special-type passengers (e.g., seniors, disabled people). The valuation of the last-mile service for special-type passengers is statistically higher than the one for regular-type passengers. Passengers incur disutility from waiting for the last-mile service. In this paper, we explore two fairness constraints on special-type passengers: (1) the fare for …

Analysis Of Access And Egress Mode Choice To High-Speed Railway Stations, Jiaoe Wang, Yongling Li, Junfeng Jiao

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

High-speed railway (HSR) has become a key mode for short- to medium-haul transportation intercity trips in China and has been regarded as a competitor to air transportation. While significant research has explored daily travel mode choices and access/egress modes for other intercity transport hubs, the factors influencing access and egress to HSR stations – particularly those related to the built environment – remain underexamined. This paper analyses access/egress mode choices for intercity travel along the Beijing-Shanghai HSR corridor using 2015 survey data. The findings show that, during the access stage, the number of bus stations at HSR stations reduces car …

Intelligent Blind Crossings For Suburban And Rural Intersections, Shahab Tayeb

Mineta Transportation Institute

Blind intersections in suburban and rural areas pose significant safety challenges due to limited visibility and inadequate infrastructure. This project proposes an innovative solution leveraging the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) paradigm, utilizing connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) for seamless communication to enhance safety at these intersections. The research focuses on developing a specialized Road-Side Unit (RSU) system equipped with a Virtual Traffic Light Algorithm implemented on a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). Key stakeholders, including transportation authorities, vehicle manufacturers, and local communities, stand to benefit from this initiative. The RSU system acts as a critical infrastructure component, facilitating efficient intersection management …

Insights For The Future Of Car Rental And Ridesharing: Driving Behavior Across Different Levels Of Automation, Pranav Meda, Aubrey Victoria Contreras, Wei-Hsiang Lo, Gaojian Huang, Yue Luo

Mineta Transportation Institute

Autonomous vehicles are reshaping the car rental and ridesharing industries, potentially leading to a unified model of on-demand transportation suitable for both uncommon (e.g., business trips) and daily commuting. An exploratory study of human behavior towards autonomous vehicles can uncover the challenges and opportunities inherent in different levels of vehicle automation. This study aims to (a) identify behavioral differences in drivers operating vehicles at various levels of automation and (b) explore how these behaviors vary with different assistance feature styles, specifically between risky and conservative modes. Human-subject experiments were conducted among twelve participants (aged 21 to 29, including four women) …

Understanding The Prevalence Of Mental Health And Behavioral Distress In Transit Assaults And Presenting Targeted Response And Mitigation Methods To Reduce Victimization Trends, Kathleen Moore, Emilie Ellenberg, Melissa Carlson, Jodi Godfrey, Lisa Staes

Mineta Transportation Institute

This research project was performed to better understand the prevalence of mental health and behavioral distress in transit assaults and present corresponding targeted response and mitigation methods to reduce victimization trends. It includes a literature review, a data presentation and overview of reported public transit assault-related events, an examination of the contributing factors to those events, and documentation of 10 transit agency case studies. The literature review discusses some of the misconceptions of mental illness and associated stigmas and discrimination that can occur in response to these misconceptions. It discusses various approaches and strategies that transit agencies have used to …