Transportation Commons^™

Use Of Speed Monitoring Display With Changeable Message Sign To Reduce Vehicle Speeds In Sc Work Zones, Abhijit Kenjale

All Theses

This research focuses on the reducing traffic speeds through work zones. Speed being the major problem for work zone safety, there was a need to develop effective traffic control devices. Thus with a aim to reduce speeds in work zone there was an effort by the Clemson University research team to come with several effective devices for South Carolina work zones. Advances in technology required some kind of a new and unique device to be developed that would display the driver speed and would also display a dynamic message. This thesis focuses on the use of such a device. The …

Cosign: A Parallel Algorithm For Coordinated Traffic Signal Control, Shih-Fen Cheng, Marina A. Epelman, Robert L. Smith

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The problem of finding optimal coordinated signal timing plans for a large number of traffic signals is a challenging problem because of the exponential growth in the number of joint timing plans that need to be explored as the network size grows. In this paper, the game-theoretic paradigm of fictitious play to iteratively search for a coordinated signal timing plan is employed, which improves a system-wide performance criterion for a traffic network. The algorithm is robustly scalable to realistic-size networks modeled with high-fidelity simulations. Results of a case study for the city of Troy, MI, where there are 75 signalized …

Spatial And Seasonal Variation In Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions, Jonathan M. Conard, Philip S. Gipson

The Prairie Naturalist

To understand seasonal variation in the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions and the influence of land cover type on collision distribution we counted road-kill carcasses for 84 weeks along a 40 km route on two state highways in northeastern Kansas. We noted land cover type adjacent to each road-kill and tested the null hypothesis that road-kills were distributed randomly with respect to land cover type. Wildlife-vehicle collisions were not distributed randomly in relation to land cover availability. Instead, collisions occurred more often then expected adjacent to riparian areas and less often than expected adjacent to agricultural fields. Wildlife-vehicle collisions varied seasonally …

Community Mobility And Dementia: A Review Of The Literature, Nina M. Silverstein, Megan Vanderbur

Gerontology Institute Publications

By the year 2030, 70 million Americans will be 65 or older. Approximately 80 percent of this population will likely be driving themselves. And without appropriate and timely interventions, many are likely to be driving with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Current estimates suggest that 2 percent of the population 65 to 74, 19 percent of the population 75 to 84, and 47 percent of the population 85 and older are likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder. By the year 2050, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease could range from 11.3 million to 16 million. This significant …

Exploration Of Data Sources For Air Cargo Studies, Mti Report Wp07-01, Wenbin Wei

Mineta Transportation Institute

No abstract provided.

Category 5 Hurricane Evacuation Analysis Of The Rio Grande Valley Of Texas: Maximum Flow Problem, Bart Webb

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The author evaluated the capability of evacuating the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron Counties) in the event of a Category 5 hurricane.

This analysis determined the duration of an evacuation required for this region in the event of a Category 5 hurricane using the evacuation maps from the State of Texas, including areas where contraflow is proposed. The Ford and Fulkerson methodology was the basis of the Maximum Flow problem for the following Category 5 hurricane scenarios: 1) Evacuation constrained only by road capacity, 2) Evacuation constrained by a Department of Homeland Security checkpoint at Falfurrias, …

High-Speed Rail Projects In The United States: Identifying The Elements Of Success-Part 2, Mti 06-03, Allison L. C. De Cerreno, Shishir Mathur

Mineta Transportation Institute

In August 2005, the Mineta Transportation Institute issued the report, High-Speed Rail Projects in the United States: Identifying the Elements for Success. The report noted that since the 1960s, highspeed ground transportation (HSGT) has “held the promise of fast, convenient, and environmentally sound travel for distances between 40 and 600 miles.” After briefly discussing the different experiences with HSGT between the United States and its Asian and European counterparts, the report proceeded to review three U.S. cases—Florida, California, and the Pacific Northwest—as a means for identifying lessons learned for successfully implementing high-speed rail (HSR) in the United States. This report …

Transportation Financing Opportunities For The State Of California, Mti Report 06-01, Asha Weinstein Agrawal

Mineta Transportation Institute

Significant investments will be required to maintain, operate, upgrade, and expand California's transportation infrastructure if the state is to retain its economic position in the global economy and accommodate a projected near doubling of the current population by 2040. At the same time, available funding for transportation will decline significantly over the next 15 years if the current transportation finance system remains unchanged. This report analyzes a range of alternative sources of revenue, as well as different finance options. The research is based upon reviews of existing literature, interviews with key stakeholders, and two statewide phone surveys. The facility-based sources …

The Fourth National Security Summit: Transportation Finance: Tough Choices Down The Road, Mti Report S-07-01, Mineta Transportation Institute

Mineta Transportation Institute

With the end of SAFTEA-LU in sight and the federal and state gas taxes becoming more marginalized through inflation, transportation and public transit must look for innovative, feasible and long-term finance solutions. The symposium:“Transportation Finance: Tough Choices Down the ” was sponsored by the Mineta Transportation Institute and co-sponsored by the California Business Roundtable. Numerous policy makers, transit executives, and transportation policy experts and researchers were invited to participate in an open forum. Topics of discussion included: SAFTEA-LU, gas tax marginalization, public receptiveness to new taxes and the likelihood of private-public partnerships. With sources of funds dwindling, either through inflation …

Suggested Research Agenda For The Railroad Industry, Barton Jennings

Journal of Transportation Management

The railroad industry is experiencing a worldwide resurgence. International trade is booming as populations continue to grow and transportation infrastructures are nearing capacity. In the United States, the industry is being pressured to provide more services, while at the same time traffic levels are skyrocketing on a network that is much smaller than it was just fifty years ago. Additionally, security and safety issues are challenging the industry, as well as the regulatory agencies associated with railroading. To help with these problems, the industry is calling for more academic involvement through new degree programs and research initiatives. This paper reviews …

First Annual Logistics Faculty Salary Survey, M Theodore Ferris, Terrance L. Pohlen, Jerry W. Wilson

Journal of Transportation Management

While the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) conducts an annual survey of business school faculty and administrative salaries, the data do not include salary figures for logistics (and related areas such as transportation and supply chain management) faculty. Since the growth in number of logistics faculty positions has continued to exceed the output of doctoral programs in the field for more than a decade, it is logical to assume that logistics faculty salaries, at all levels, are increasing. However, without factual data, what salary should a new logistics Ph.D. expect, and what should an administrator budget …

Smooth Sailing Or Rough Seas: The Future Of International Liner Shipping, David A. Menachof

Journal of Transportation Management

The last 5 years have been exciting for the world of international liner shipping. Mergers, new and larger vessels, charter rates becoming more volatile and demand continuing to increase are just part of this world of liner shipping. This article is an attempt to highlight some of the issues that will be affecting international shipping in the forthcoming years. At its best, this article will be right on the money. At its worst, readers will look back at this article and wonder how the author could have been so wrong. More likely is that some things will occur as predicted, …

Establishing A Motor Carrier Research Agenda, Carlo D. Smith, John L. Kent

Journal of Transportation Management

The motor carrier industry represents an important linkage in a variety of industry supply chains and accounts for a substantial level of total logistics cost. This article combines a review of motor carrier research over the past 10 years (1996-2006), with input from executives representing common and specialty carrier services, to identify key areas of interest to guide future motor carrier research.

Evaluating The Comparative Efficiency Of Eleven States’ Highway Expenditures, Hokey Min, Thomas Lambert

Journal of Transportation Management

In an era of budget deficits and financial cutbacks, the efficiency of state highway finances dictates future investment in road construction and maintenance. Considering the significant impact of highway infrastructure on the survival and competitiveness of the logistics industry, this paper aims to develop a meaningful set of benchmarks that will guide the state government authority in making wise investment decisions regarding road construction and maintenance. In particular, we propose a data envelopment analysis that is proven to be useful for measuring the operational efficiency of various profit or non-profit organizations. Using the examples of state highway finances for Kentucky …

Age-Related Shifts In Housing And Transportation Demand : A Multidisciplinary Study Conducted For Metro By Portland State University's College Of Urban And Public Affairs, Final Report, Margaret B. Neal, Nancy J. Chapman, Jennifer Dill, Irina V. Sharkova, Alan Kenneth Delatorre, Kathleen A. Sullivan, Tomoko Kanai, Sheila A. Martin

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding where middle-aged and older adults live, where they are moving, how they get around, and the factors influencing these decisions is essential for planning for the future. To gain an understanding of the impact of age-related shifts on housing and transportation demand, Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs, via its Institute on Aging, was contracted to conduct a review of the literature and to analyze existing key local and national data sources. A multidisciplinary team of faculty and graduate students was assembled and performed the work in the summer of 2006. The literature reviewed and the …

Bus Rapid Transit: A Handbook For Partners, Mti Report 06-02, George E. Gray, Thomas F. Larwin, Norman Kelley

Mineta Transportation Institute

In April 2005, the Caltrans Division of Research and Innovation (DRI) asked MTI to assist with the research for and publication of a guidebook for use by Caltrans employees who work with local transit agencies and jurisdictions in planning, designing, and operating Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems that involve state facilities. The guidebook was also to assist to transit operators, local governments, community residents, and other stakeholders dealing with the development of BRT systems. Several areas in the state have experienced such projects ( San Diego , Los Angeles , San Francisco , and Alameda County ) and DRI wished …

Regional Travel Options 2004-05 Program Evaluation, Jennifer Dill

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

Regional Travel Options contracted with the Portland State University Center for Urban Studies to evaluate all program efforts over the 2004-05 fiscal year. Services provided were shown in relationship to the Regional Travel Options program 5-year strategic plan. The level of participation, satisfaction and the use of alternative travel options were measured where possible. Finally, the extent to which programs supported RTO objectives and connections to other regional goals was assessed. Results included auto-trip reductions. Recommendations for improving data collection were made. Each RTO-partner program is detailed individually in the appendices.

Slides: A Climate Change Initiative For The Rockies, Jim Norton

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Jim Norton, Director, Environmental Protection Division, New Mexico Environment Department.

12 slides.

Slides: Climate Change Action In Arizona & The West, Stephen A. Owens

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Stephen A. Owens, Director, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

24 slides.

Slides: Taking The Long View: Doing Something About Climate Change, David Getches, Susan Avery, Maggie Fox, Roger Pielke

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Maggie Fox, President, America Votes, Boulder, CO.

Presenter: Susan Avery, Interim Provost and Executive Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University of Colorado.

Presenter: Roger Pielke, Jr., Professor, Environmental Studies, Center for Science and Technology Policy Research, University of Colorado.

4 slides.

Slides: Potential Climate Change Impacts On California, Fran Pavley

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Fran Pavley, California Assemblywoman.

1 page and 17 slides.

Assembly Member Fran Pavley will discuss efforts in California to reduce global warming pollution. She will provide information on her landmark bill, AB 1493, which requires automakers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks, and also talk about her current legislation, AB 32 (Núñez-Pavley) to require a statewide cap on greenhouse gases and mandatory reporting from large-scale emitters.

Slides: The Cdm Carbon Market And The Upcoming U.S. Market, Evan A. Evans

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Evan A. Evans, P.E., Vice President and Director of Engineering, Econergy International, Boulder, CO.

15 slides.

Slides: Got Government? A Look At What’S Behind Solving Climate Change In The Private Sector, Tom Arnold

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Tom Arnold, Terrapass, Inc., Menlo Park, CA.

15 slides.

Slides: Major New York State Climate Change Policies, Franz Litz

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Franz Litz, Climate Change Policy Coordinator, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

1 page and 28 slides.

Franz Litz will briefly describe the major climate change actions undertaken by the State of New York in recent years. He will place specific emphasis on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cooperative effort of 8 eastern states to implement a regional cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon emissions from the power sector. In addition, he will explore the potential for linking the eastern initiative to one or more western state programs in development.

Global Warming And Transportation System Planning, Bob Yuhnke

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Bob Yuhnke, Robert E. Yuhnke & Associates, Boulder, CO.

4 pages.

Agenda: Climate Change And The Future Of The American West: Exploring The Legal And Policy Dimensions, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Sponsors: The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; BP America; Holland & Hart; Patrick, Miller & Krope, P.C.; The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Rocky Mountain Natural Resource Center of the National Wildlife Federation, Western Water Assessment.

Exploring the legal and political dimensions that climate change will bring to the American West will be the focus of the CU-Boulder Natural Resources Law Center's 27th Annual Summer Conference.

Titled "Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions," the conference will be held June 7-9 at the Fleming Law Building on the University of Colorado at …

Slides: The Real Biofuel Cycles And The Earth, Biofuels, And Reality, Tad W. Patzek

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Tad W. Patzek, Professor of Petroleum Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

2 pages and 29 slides.

Contains footnotes.

Slides: Planning For Sustainable Growth: Main Street Revitalization, Katherine Cornwell

Climate Change and the Future of the American West: Exploring the Legal and Policy Dimensions (Summer Conference, June 7-9)

Presenter: Katherine Cornwell.

33 slides.

Transportation Collaboration In The States, National Policy Consensus Center

National Policy Consensus Center Publications

Initiated in the summer of 2005 under contract to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), this project focused on the use of collaborative practices to address a range of transportation planning and development issues.

The project had four primary objectives:

• develop increased awareness among state officials of opportunities for the use of collaborative processes and collaborative governance systems in the transportation arena;
• identify one or more transportation collaboration opportunity in at least two states;
• identify collaborative training opportunities;
• develop and test a detailed assessment tool for use in identifying and designing transportation collaborations.

This project was conducted by the National Policy …

Travel And Transit Use At Portland Area Transit-Oriented Developments (Tods), Jennifer Dill

Urban Studies and Planning Faculty Publications and Presentations

In recent years there has been a growing interest in using land use planning to reduce reliance on the automobile long-term, through ideas such as smart growth, New Urbanism, pedestrian pockets, and transit-oriented development (TODs). Many growing regions throughout the United States, are turning to these concepts to address problems of traffic congestion and suburban sprawl. However, the effectiveness of such policies in reducing automobile travel and improving livability is largely unknown. Portland was one of the early adopters and is often pointed to as a model for other regions. The Region's 2040 Growth Concept, adopted by the Metro regional …