Center for Transportation Research: Highlights

The September Research Digest highlights recent TxDOT Research Reports. The issue is available online as a PDF. Recent reports from CTR, TTI, UH, USGS, UTA, and UTEP are included in the digest. Links to full-text PDFs for each report are provided. The Research Digest is a monthly newsletter targeted towards TxDOT staff and researchers. The goal [...]

[Read more]

Image from Intelligent Transportation Systems (US DOT) With over 1,000 deaths and 50,000 injuries occurring each year in work zones, radar speed signs can help slow drivers down and curtail accidents. “We first used a portable radar speed sign while doing storm drain repair at a Y intersection of a four lane thoroughfare,” said Tad [...]

[Read more]

A new research study conducted at Queensland University of Technology’s International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health found that ultrafine particles can become concentrated inside of roadway tunnels at levels sufficiently high enough to potentially to drivers and passengers. Study co-author and director of Queensland University of Technology’s International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, [...]

[Read more]

Each year the League of American Bicyclists grants four levels of awards to U.S. businesses that “encourage a more bicycle friendly atmosphere for employees and customers.” The levels are platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, with a handful of honorable mentions. As might be expected, many of the companies receiving awards are bicycle retailers but other organizations [...]

[Read more]

David Bryne, author of Bicycle Diaries, and frontman for the band, Talking Heads, will be part of a panel discussion titled: “Bicycles, Cities, and Transportation in Austin.” The event takes place September 27, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. The Paramount is located at 713 Congress Avenue. The event is free and open [...]

[Read more]

The U.S. House of Representatives voted Wednesday to extend federal higway and transit programs, which were to expire September 30, until the end of the year. House Democratic leaders brought the measure, HR 3617, sponsored by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-MN, to the floor late this afternoon using an expedited procedure [...]

[Read more]

In an interview with Dr. Joseph Coughlin and Dr. Bryan Reimer, the Wall Street Journal examines a trend of transportation research that focuses on safety in part because drivers are aging. The duo is currently analyzing data collected by the Transportation Center’s newest innovation—a Volvo XC90 that cruises around Cambridge, Mass., with $1.5 million of [...]

[Read more]

Commuting and Public Policy (YouTube Video) In the series Door To Door Robert “Buzz” Paaswell, director of the University Transportation Research Center at City College, discussed commuting policy on the Brian Lehrer show from WNYC.org.

[Read more]