Thinking Transportation: Engaging Conversations about Transportation Innovations

Revisited: Crash Data and an Aging Population Raise an Issue: How old is too old to drive? Feb 04, 2025

Folks are living longer thanks to medical breakthroughs and healthier lifestyles, and that means our overall U.S. population is skewing older. The Texas Demographic Center notes that the U.S. population aged 65 and older spiked between 2010 and 2020, the largest 10-year growth on record. That means more drivers on the road are older too, and statistics show that licensees over 70 jumped from 73 percent in 1997 to 87 percent in 2022. A year ago, Bernie Fette talked with TTI's Myunghoon Ko about the challenges and dangers facing older drivers, as well as how research like that performed at the Institute is producing more effective countermeasures to help keep these vulnerable drivers safer on our roadways. Today, we revisit that conversation.

The Math Doesn't Lie: Roundabouts Make Driving Safer, More Reliable, and Less Technology Dependent Jan 21, 2025

Roundabouts and other innovative intersections offer a number of advantages over more traditional designs, including improved sustainability, reliability, and resilience--and astonishing benefits to traffic safety for drivers. Amanda Austin, the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT's) lead in implementing these alternative designs, and TTI Research Engineer Marcus Brewer join us this episode to discuss them. For more information on TxDOT's work in this area, see the department's Innovative Intersections web page.

Revolution Requires Evolution: We Need New Roadside Safety Standards for Electric Vehicles Jan 06, 2025

In June 2024, TTI's Roadside Safety and Physical Security Team crashed a Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle (EV) into a heavy-duty guardrail at 62 miles per hour. When the EV blew right through the barrier, researchers were stunned. TTI Senior Research Engineer Roger Bligh, whose 38 years of roadside safety barrier testing experience oversaw the test, joins guest host and TTI Agency Director Greg Winfree to discuss the results of the testing and the broader implications for standards governing the development and deployment of roadside safety devices. | View the Crash Test

Innovation, Education, Communication: TTI's University Transportation Centers Dec 17, 2024

Administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the University Transportation Centers Program provides grants to college and university consortia across America. With an emphasis on innovating transportation technologies, educating the next generation of transportation professionals, and transferring technology to share lessons learned, the program leverages the best academic talent at U.S. institutions of higher learning to solve mobility and safety problems that affect all Americans. Dr. Melissa Tooley, TTI assistant agency director for federal affairs and UTC operations, discusses TTI's history with the program and looks forward to future opportunities.

Trending Teens: What TTI's Latest Research Says about Young Driver Attitudes and Behaviors Dec 03, 2024

For more than two decades, TTI has championed young driver safety, preventing injury and saving lives through education, empowerment, and peer-led outreach. Supported by public- and private-sector sponsors, the Institute's Youth Transportation Safety (YTS) Program recently published Texas Trends, 2024, which captures data regarding young driver attitudes, codifies ongoing crash and injury trends, and helps us better understand the causes behind more than 900 young driver traffic deaths each year. TTI's Christine Yager discusses the report. | View the Texas Trends, 2024 report

Bridge to Everywhere: How to Keep International Trucks Moving While Expanding The Bridge of the Americas. Nov 12, 2024

International commerce depends on trucks crossing national borders regularly, reliably, and securely. Ports of entry like the bridges connecting the United States and Mexico in El Paso, Texas, are vital to both nations' economic vitality. But what happens when a major conduit like The Bridge of the Americas is closed for updating? Where does that traffic go? How can we keep those goods flowing without negatively impacting the surrounding community? We interview experts from TTI's Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research in El Paso to find out. | Bridges Connecting El Paso to Mexico | Texas-Mexico Border Transportation Management Plan

Virtual Degree, Real-World Opportunity: Texas A&M Online Master's of Engineering Offers Recipients New Career Options Oct 29, 2024

Texas A&M University's Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering offers an online master of engineering in engineering degree designed for engineering professionals interested in management. Led by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), this program offers valuable real-world experience from qualified instructors in topics like working with city governments to help graduates become better managers or begin management careers. Two of the instructors, TTI's Brianne Glover and Jim Cline, sit down with Allan Rutter to discuss what an applicant can expect from the program, as well as how it can help graduates' professional lives after completion.

Long Trains Runnin': How Freight Trains Impact U.S. Communities According to a Recently Released Study Requested by Congress Oct 15, 2024

On September 17, 2024, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine released a report following a study of freight trains longer than 7,500 feet and their impacts on local communities. Requested by the U.S. Congress, the report recommends empowering regulatory agencies to address challenges such as safety concerns and traffic delays due to blocked crossings. Our host, TTI's Allan Rutter, served as one of twelve members on the consensus study panel that produced the report. He talks with David Willhauer, senior program officer with the Transportation Research Board, who was the project manager for the study. Listeners can find the report here.

EVolving Attitudes, Expanding Infrastructure: Electric Vehicles Are Charging Ahead Thanks to Public Sector Incentives. Sep 24, 2024

The Washington Post recently reported that electric vehicles (EVs) now outnumber gas-powered cars in Norway, the first country to claim that distinction. The U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation--a shared agency of the U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation--was created in 2021 under the bipartisan infrastructure law to help facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles across the United States. Gabriel Klein, executive director of the Joint Office, and Joe Zietsman, deputy director of TTI, join us today to talk about the advantages, challenges, and long-term goals of implementing EVs nationwide.

Revisited: Alone in the Crowd: Long-haul truckers fight isolation through satellite connections. Sep 10, 2024

With National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (Sept. 15-21) just around the corner, it seemed a good time to revisit our interview with Mark Willis from almost exactly one year ago. This is the week in which the trucking industry celebrates the contributions of roughly 3.5 million professional truck drivers nationwide, who deliver the essential goods our families rely on, from food to fuel to medicine to clothing. Mark is host of the afternoon show on Road Dog Trucking, channel 146 on SiriusXM, a lifeline to truckers nationwide to other truckers and the topics that interest them like roadway safety and adequate parking. Thousands of long-haul truck drivers in America share a common and constant challenge of remoteness, and they find insight and community through the vast reach of satellite radio.

Celebrating a Lifetime Storyteller: Bernie Fette passes the baton to our podcast's new host, Allan Rutter. Aug 27, 2024

This 89th episode of Thinking Transportation is a landmark event. Host Bernie Fette, who is retiring from service to the state of Texas after more than 30 years, is passing the podcast hosting baton to Allan Rutter, TTI's Freight Practice Leader. Included in his decades of transportation-related employment, Allan served as Federal Railroad Administrator under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2004. Allan interviews Bernie about his many years of experience as a journalist, media expert, podcaster, and innovative storyteller for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute regarding all things transportation.

Not So Fast! Can driver behavior influence how speed limits are set? Aug 15, 2024

Factors that determine speed limits on a given roadway have a lot to do with physical conditions along the route, but how fast drivers want to go figures into the equation, too.

Revisited: At the Intersection of Engineering and Psychology -- How a diverse team manages special event traffic. Jul 30, 2024

When special events set new records for attendance, they tend to do the same for roadway gridlock. To ensure success, experts rely on the right mix of traffic planning and outreach.

The Never Ending Story? Why road projects take so long to complete. Jul 16, 2024

Building a new highway involves a complex and painstaking process, one that begins years before the folks in hard hats and orange vests arrive on the scene.

Anchors Aweigh: How maritime interests occupy a vital link in the freight industry. Jun 25, 2024

We rely upon waterborne shipping for most of the products we buy and use every day. We hardly give that reliance any thought at all – until something goes wrong.

Is Traffic Back to Pre-COVID Levels? That depends on where you live. Jun 11, 2024

It’s not enough to know that traffic is bad and getting worse. We also need to know where, when, and why. TTI Senior Research Scientist and urban mobility expert David Schrank joins us to discuss the "how" of answering those questions.

Revisited--Exit This Way: Research informing upgrades in hurricane evacuation planning. May 28, 2024

As the 2024 hurricane season approaches again, climate experts across the United States are predicting an especially active season, driven largely by higher-than-average sea surface temperatures. This makes ever more important the research and planning that begins long before extreme weather strikes, and continues long after the storm has passed.

A Two-Edged Sword: In-vehicle technologies can either help us or hurt us. May 14, 2024

As car makers focus on protecting drivers and passengers, do their computer-based innovations really make us safer, or might they in some cases compromise our safety?

Bhatt and Winfree: Two industry leaders and their shared optimism for the future. Apr 30, 2024

FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt and TTI Agency Director Greg Winfree reflect upon a wide range of mobility challenges and opportunities, with references to Star Wars, Dick Tracy and hair styles.

Will AI Help Us Realize Our Highest Hopes or Our Deepest Fears? Apr 16, 2024

Artificial intelligence seeks to replicate the analytical and creative capabilities of the human brain. Perhaps that lofty ambition helps to explain why so many humans are leery of the idea.

More Transit Agencies Are Jumping on the Battery-Powered Bandwagon. Apr 02, 2024

Cities working to become leaders in clean transportation are electrifying their bus fleets, and learning that the road to success can be a bumpy one.

Neil Pedersen Has a Question: Are we willing to stick our necks out? Mar 19, 2024

The former leader of TRB may have stepped away from full-time employment, but he hasn’t stepped away entirely from the industry he has helped to guide for half a century.

Roadside Mysteries: When utilities pose unique challenges for roadway construction. Mar 05, 2024

Every road construction project involves the hidden element of utilities in the right of way. That work isn’t necessarily as visible, but it’s every bit as consequential.

Is Public Transit Back to Pre-pandemic Normal? That depends on where you look. Feb 22, 2024

The transit industry is better equipped to work through a public health crisis than it was before COVID-19. And even as it faces persistent challenges, public transportation continues to play a central role in everyday mobility.

Crash Data and an Aging Population Raise an Issue: How old is too old to drive? Feb 06, 2024

Drivers over age 80 are more prone to serious and deadly crashes. As this population segment grows, researchers are working toward fresh countermeasures.

Behind the Wheel, What We Think and What We Do Can Define Who We Are. Jan 23, 2024

Attitudes and behaviors related to driving reveal our traffic safety culture. Like other forms of culture, it has a way of changing over time— and not always for the better.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind: How it’s easy to overlook our reliance on GPS. Jan 02, 2024

With near-magical precision, GPS applications reliably guide multiple functions for us every moment of every day. But as they hold great promise, those applications also face vulnerabilities.

How to Ensure That US Infrastructure Remains Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts. Dec 12, 2023

America’s infrastructure was built to last, but it wasn’t built to last forever. The Center for Infrastructure Renewal is focusing on how to ensure the resilience of the collective physical systems that America runs upon.

Can Imperiled Creatures Survive and Thrive amid Widespread Roadway Construction? Nov 28, 2023

The well-being of creatures protected under the Endangered Species Act is a high priority for transportation agencies. That’s good for the critters, and for agency operations as well.

Can Solar Panels in Highway ROW Be the Next Big Step in Renewable Energy? Nov 07, 2023

In using roadsides for the collection of solar power, can we succeed in achieving both environmental and economic goals? It all depends on how you define “success.”

We Rank the 2,138 Most Congested Roads in Texas. Is your daily drive on the list? Oct 24, 2023

Traffic congestion is relative, because what constitutes gridlock depends a lot on where you live. Clearly, though, it’s no longer just a big city problem.

Revisited--Big and Bright: The view from TxDOT CEO Marc Williams’ Chair. Oct 10, 2023

As we gather for the 97th Annual Transportation Short Course, we're revisiting our interview with Texas Department of Transportation CEO Marc Williams from approximately one year ago. Despite some Texas-sized mobility challenges and worldwide supply-chain obstacles, the guy in charge of the Texas Department of Transportation wants you to know he’s never been more optimistic about our transportation future.

Alone in the Crowd: Long-haul truckers fight isolation through satellite connections. Sep 26, 2023

Thousands of long-haul truck drivers in America share a common and constant challenge of remoteness. They find insight and community through the vast reach of satellite radio.

When Mobility Needs Are Like Snowflakes: TTI’s outposts focus on singular urban challenges. Sep 12, 2023

It’s been said that all politics is local. Given the unique nature of major population centers everywhere, the same could be said for transportation.

Minor Stress Factors Can Cause Major Problems, Even in the Best Driving Conditions Aug 29, 2023

Obvious pressures when we’re driving on the roadways—like aggressive drivers, stormy weather, and unruly passengers—are widely recognized. But less conspicuous triggers can compromise safety, too.

Lofty Ambitions Are Fueling the Move Toward Sustainable Transportation Aug 15, 2023

Decarbonizing the transportation sector—the single-biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions—won’t happen overnight. But the U.S. Department of Energy has a plan.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Pedestrian deaths are at a 40-year high. Aug 01, 2023

The dangers for those who travel on foot have constituted a public health challenge for as long as we’ve had motor vehicles. Why are pedestrian deaths increasing so fast? And what can be done to stem the tide?

What If? ... How modelers envision the worst to enable the best response. Jul 18, 2023

Disasters – whether natural or man-made – can cripple transportation systems. Sophisticated modeling can go a long way in minimizing disruptions and restoring routine conditions.

Is America’s Infrastructure Turning a Corner? Jul 06, 2023

Two years have passed since America’s last road and bridge report card, and we’ll wait another two years for the next one. An unofficial mid-term grade suggests that conditions are improving.

The Texas Transportation Hall of Honor: Recognizing vision, passion, and purpose. Jun 20, 2023

Texas owes its transportation primacy in large part to an elite group of visionary leaders whose contributions merit permanent and meaningful places in the Lone Star State’s history.

Fewer Motorcycle Safety Coaches, More Unlicensed Riders, More Crashes: Is there a link? Jun 06, 2023

In recent years, roughly half of the motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes in Texas were unlicensed. Safety advocates are working to enlist more instructors who can help riders develop the safety skills they need.

Charging Ahead: How the Electrified Mobility Collaborative envisions a radical shift. May 25, 2023

Nearly 300 million vehicles are on American roads today. Nearly all of them run on gasoline or diesel, so a large-scale shift to electric power would be transformative. A new Texas A&M University System venture is working to figure out how that might work.

For Bernie Wagenblast, both career and life have been all about transition. May 09, 2023

As a transportation journalist, Bernie Wagenblast has been weaving narratives of a professional sort for more than 40 years. As it turns out, one of her most recent stories is more personal.

Hidden Treasures: Remote community airports play an essential role in Texas life. Apr 27, 2023

The value that small general aviation airports deliver far exceeds what their modest size might suggest. To many local government officials, those facilities represent “the most valuable mile of pavement in the county.”

Revisited--Highway to the Danger Zone: Hazards abound where road work advances. Apr 11, 2023

As we’re about to observe National Work Zone Awareness Week and in light of a work zone crash last month in Maryland, in which 6 workers were killed, we're revisiting a discussion with TTI's Jerry Ullman, research engineer and highway work zone safety expert. The number of fatal crashes in America is up by about 7 percent over the past decade. But in roadway work zones, it’s up by more than 40 percent. Jerry discusses why those work zones are dangerous not only for those who work in them, but for those who navigate them as well.

Off the Rails, On the QT: Train derailments happen daily, though few grab our attention. Mar 30, 2023

Major railroad disasters tend to produce major news headlines, but there are hundreds of derailments each year in America that we never hear about. Why is that?

Turning the Tables: When a transportation journalist is the one answering, not asking, the questions. Mar 14, 2023

It’s been said that journalists are responsible for writing the first draft of history. As the transportation writer for the Houston Chronicle, Dug Begley has been crafting that city’s mobility story for more than a decade.

Engineering a Career Path: Sometimes, a 7th grade dream can actually come true. Feb 28, 2023

Even after wrapping up a 46-year stretch at TTI, Tim Lomax still enjoys the adrenaline rush that comes from finding new traffic challenges, and fixing them.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Maintaining our roadway infrastructure demands a varied scientific approach. Feb 14, 2023

America’s roads were built to last, but they weren’t built to last forever. New research is taking a forensic approach to maintaining and repairing our surface transportation infrastructure.

Bent, But Not Broken: How global supply chains demonstrate post-pandemic resilience. Jan 31, 2023

Most of what we buy and use every day comes to us on cargo ships, which represent essential links in worldwide distribution systems. A global public health crisis reminded us of how important they really are.

At the Intersection of Engineering and Psychology: How a diverse team manages special event traffic. Jan 17, 2023

Big-time athletic events can create big-time roadway gridlock. Experts game out the possibilities to navigate chaos – from the first car in, to the last one out.

Uncommonly Deadly: Wrong-way crashes are small in number, immense in devastation. Jan 03, 2023

Wrong-way crashes on high-speed roadways are uncommon, but they’re almost always fatal. Ongoing research is supporting countermeasures to help drivers avoid – or escape -- a rare but perilous roadway hazard.

All Aboard? When unions, management, and Congress dodged a nationwide rail strike. Dec 15, 2022

Rail industry employees and management were at odds for months and on the verge of a nationwide shutdown, until Congress and the White House invoked an arcane 1926 law to settle the dispute in only a few days.

It Takes a (Big) Village: How a community of transportation pros is making mobility better. Nov 29, 2022

The Institute of Transportation Engineers is wrapping up a pivotal year in its history. Jeff Paniati, the organization’s CEO, and TTI's Beverly Kuhn, its outgoing president, talk about lessons learned from the past 12 months and how the transportation profession is evolving -- along with society.

Border Balancing Act: Finding harmony between commercial efficiency and security demands. Nov 08, 2022

Along America’s 2,000-mile border with Mexico, there’s plenty of room for things to go awry when it comes to the secure, efficient movement of people and goods. Myriad public and private partnerships and the latest research are helping ensure that they don’t.

Sharing the Load on Texas Roads: Are overweight trucks paying their fair share? Oct 25, 2022

Big trucks cause more damage to transportation infrastructure, but they pay less to use roads and bridges than passenger vehicles do. New research findings – with input from the freight industry – can inform how policy makers might change that.

Big and Bright: The view from TxDOT CEO Marc Williams’ chair. Oct 10, 2022

Despite some Texas-sized mobility challenges and worldwide supply-chain obstacles, the guy in charge of the Texas Department of Transportation wants you to know he’s never been more optimistic about our transportation future.

Drilling for Solutions: A gusher of new data is helping cut crash numbers in Texas’ Permian Basin. Sep 27, 2022

Large vehicle collisions in and around the giant West Texas oil patch in recent years have been alarmingly frequent and serious. Through a partnership approach, local transportation agencies and industry leaders are turning the tide.

Under the Influence of Youth: Most teens are eligible to drive at age 16, but are they ready? Sep 15, 2022

Young drivers face greater risks on the road than any other group. Some of the reasons for that are unlikely to change, but one thing that’s clearly open to revision is the manner in which we approach the problem.

Of Needles and Haystacks: For truck drivers, finding a parking space is tougher than ever. Aug 30, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic helped to expose a chronic shortage of truck drivers in America – and a scarcity of places for those truckers to park, too. That has big implications for how we get the products we need, and how much we pay for them.

All over the Map: Just two car guys talking about transportation. Aug 16, 2022

From self-driving tech to safety culture and power grids. When a transportation research leader and an auto industry journalist cross paths, the conversation can go in many directions.

Safety in Numbers? As bicycle use grows more popular, crash numbers carry mixed messages. Aug 02, 2022

Along with the growing popularity of bicycling comes an increased need for safety. But while the number of bicycle crash injuries dropped during 2020, that was not the case for bicycle crash fatalities. TTI researchers Bahar Dadashova and Joan Hudson take a close look at that pattern, and what can be done about it.

On the Ascent: General aviation in Texas is more indispensable than ever. Jul 19, 2022

Numbering nearly 300, Texas has more community airports than counties. Largely out of view and out of mind for most of us, they are nonetheless central to the state’s prosperity and security.

Exit This Way: Research informing upgrades in hurricane evacuation planning. Jul 05, 2022

Predictions for an especially active hurricane season place added importance on the research and planning that begins long before extreme weather strikes, and continues long after the storm has passed.

Building by the Numbers: How economic indicators guide road construction. Jun 22, 2022

Some statistics like population growth and the price of crude oil are directly linked to transportation planning in Texas. But others—like commercial airline boardings and home sales—play a role, too. Collectively, the numbers paint a picture that informs how we fund our transportation system.

When the Workplace Is Behind the Wheel: Improving occupational safety for truckers (and the rest of us). Jun 07, 2022

Close to half of all workplace deaths result from transportation incidents, including crashes that involve large trucks. Drivers of those trucks are at higher risk than workers in other jobs. And to the degree that we share road space with truckers, the risk extends to the rest of us, too. Evolving policies resulting from new research could help to change that.

Cars Can Track Our Driving Habits: Who owns that data, and what's being done with it? May 24, 2022

The newest cars on the road today generate huge amounts of data, telling us much about our driving habits and helping us build and operate our roadways. How safely and efficiently we travel in the future will depend in part on how wisely stakeholders use that data.

Beyond Skin Deep: The humble roadway is about more than asphalt and concrete. Apr 26, 2022

Today’s pavements bear little resemblance to the driving surfaces of the early 1900s. Research Engineer Darlene Goehl explains how decades of experimentation have led to development of the modern streets and highways that are central to our daily lives.

When a Crash Is No Accident: Staging roadside collisions to make them more survivable. Apr 12, 2022

Sometimes vehicle crashes can’t be avoided, but it is possible to make them less life threatening. Senior Research Engineer Lance Bullard joins us to discuss how research has been making roadsides safer for travelers for as long as we’ve had roadsides.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back? Keeping tabs on self-driving tech. Mar 29, 2022

One of the first lessons we learned about autonomous travel remains true today: Building a self-driving car is a lot more difficult than many people expected. Senior Research Scientist Bob Brydia sits down with us again to discuss progress made in the past year related to self-driving vehicles becoming commonplace on our roadways, and how far they have yet to go.

Multiple Stakeholders, One Purpose: The vision of “clean transportation” involves much more than electric cars. Mar 15, 2022

Government agencies, utilities, vehicle manufacturers, and related industries all have a stake in a clean transportation future. Though they share a common interest and purpose, these groups haven’t collaborated extensively in the past. They have the chance — and the urgency — to do so now.

First, Do No Harm: When endangered species habitats lie in a roadway’s path. Mar 01, 2022

Unintended encounters with cars and trucks are bad news for animals. Not only do creatures face dangers on existing roads, they’re often imperiled from the moment road construction begins. Assistant Research Scientist Jett McFalls talks about why protecting endangered snakes and toads is good for the creatures, and good for keeping road projects on schedule and on budget, too.

Upsides and Downsides: Transportation and public health share a complicated union. Feb 15, 2022

How we develop our transportation systems has direct and lasting impacts on personal well-being. Associate Research Scientist Ben Ettelman explains how newly identified pathways can help agencies ensure that the goals for efficient mobility and robust public health are inextricably linked.

Channeling George Jetson: We could have flying cars sooner than we think. Feb 01, 2022

The concept of urban air mobility (UAM) envisions the safe and efficient movement of people and cargo at low altitudes within populated areas. Many complex issues present challenges, but as TTI Senior Research Scientist Jeff Borowiec explains, electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (EVTOLs) can help us realize the benefits and promise of UAM.

When Traffic Takes Sick Leave: COVID’s effect on Texas roadways. Jan 18, 2022

TTI researchers have measured traffic gridlock through an urban area lens for decades. Senior Research Scientist David Schrank explains why they’ve also been narrowing the focus in Texas, looking at specific sections of freeways and major streets, and ranking them—all 1,854 of them.

Partners in Purpose: How universities and the Transportation Research Board find solutions together through science and innovation. Jan 04, 2022

Transportation improvements require tireless effort and inspired innovation. TTI Executive Associate Director Katie Turnbull and Neil Pedersen, executive director at the Transportation Research Board (TRB), discuss how universities help TRB to advance the evidence-based, scientific solutions necessary to sustaining a safe, efficient and reliable transportation system.

Highway to the Danger Zone: Hazards abound where road work advances. Dec 14, 2021

The number of fatal crashes in America is up by about 7 percent over the past decade. But in roadway work zones, it’s up by more than 40 percent. Senior Research Engineer Jerry Ullman explores why those work zones are dangerous not only for those who work in them, but for those who navigate them as well.

Strong as Their Weakest Link: What the pandemic taught us about supply chains. Nov 30, 2021

Supply chains everywhere were strained to their limits long before the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic simply exposed weaknesses that were already there. TTI’s Senior Research Scientist Jolanda Prozzi and Research Scientist Juan Villa share new understanding about the complexity and fragility of the systems we depend on to get our goods where they need to go.

Innovation U: In a transportation research rivalry, everyone is a winner. Nov 16, 2021

Greg Winfree and Zac Doerzaph, leaders of America’s two most prominent transportation research agencies, share their insights on the nation’s mobility priorities, and what university-based research can do to support those priorities. (They talk a little about motorcycles and teleportation, too.)

From BAC to THC: How the impaired driving danger is evolving. Nov 02, 2021

The latest statistics tell us that while driving drunk has become a bit less common, driving high is more prevalent than ever. As Senior Research Scientist Troy Walden explains, what exactly constitutes driving under the influence is not as simple as it once was, especially given the constantly changing landscape of state laws.

Can We Talk? How meaningful engagement can create public support for transportation projects. Oct 19, 2021

The idea of engaging the public on decisions about how to spend public transportation dollars seems perfectly reasonable, but it’s not how things were always done. Senior Research Scientist Tina Geiselbrecht tells us how federal legislation 30 years ago made transportation planning a lot more user-focused.

Charging Ahead: How electric trucks can re-shape the freight and delivery industry. Oct 05, 2021

The electrification of the medium- and large-truck fleet is driven by both business interests and climate concerns, and it’s boosted by leaps in battery and charging technology. Senior Research Scientist Allan Rutter explains how the transformation of what powers freight delivery may come sooner than many of us ever thought possible.

Ready or Not, Here They Come: Preparing for the electric vehicle transformation. Sep 21, 2021

The number of electric cars and trucks on our roadways is growing, and the pace of that growth is accelerating. Are we ready for that? TTI Assistant Director Joe Zietsman and Research Scientist Ann Xu talk about the pros and cons of battery-driven travel, which can be more complex than they might seem.

To Have or Have Not: When transformative mobility options are beyond the reach of underserved populations. Sep 07, 2021

Travel for many of us has become more convenient, affordable, productive and, in some cases, more enjoyable than ever. But not everyone enjoys the benefits of options like bike sharing, ride hailing, and e-scooters. TTI Research Scientist Ipek Sener helps us understand how underserved populations are missing out on the promise of life-enhancing transportation technologies.

Raising Them Right: Cultivating the next generation of transportation professionals. Aug 24, 2021

Just as roads and bridges need regular reinforcement, so too do the professionals who help us travel safely and smoothly on our transportation network. Senior Research Engineer Beverly Kuhn explains how inspiring and guiding new ranks of practitioners can ensure our transportation system continues to support and improve upon our way of life.

What We Think, We Become: How traffic safety knowledge influences driver behavior. Aug 10, 2021

Whatever occupies our thoughts can influence our performance on the road. In this episode, Senior Research Scientist Katie Womack takes a close look at our awareness of traffic laws and safety messages over the past decade, and how that knowledge can shape our driving behavior.

When Captives Become Cargo: How transportation professionals can disrupt human trafficking. Jul 27, 2021

An efficient transportation network is central to the success of any commercial enterprise, including those that aren’t legal. Our roads and bridges enable the scourge of human trafficking, but as Research Engineer John Haberman tells us, those who manage the network can play a part in disrupting that heinous activity.

There’s Danger Afoot: Death by walking remains a chronic roadway safety issue. Jul 13, 2021

Cars and pedestrians have been sharing space on city streets for more than a century, and traveling on foot remains as dangerous as it’s ever been. Associate Transportation Researcher Neal Johnson helps us explore worrisome trends for the most vulnerable users of our roadway network.

Now You See It, Now You Don’t: COVID-19 made traffic congestion disappear, but not for long. Jun 29, 2021

America’s worst public health crisis in a century gave us a short-lived gridlock hiatus, as TTI Research Fellow Tim Lomax explains. The pandemic also amplified an important and timeless lesson in roadway traffic management at a time when U.S. infrastructure needs are once again top of mind.

Shaking Up the System: Using disruptive technologies to create safer roads. Jun 15, 2021

Roadway safety today is about much more than traffic laws, warning signs, and guardrails. TTI Senior Research Scientist Sue Chrysler illustrates how technologies – even disruptive technologies – are re-imagining how we can prevent crashes and mitigate their enormous personal and financial costs.

Half the Wheels and Eight Times the Danger: Roadways are safer these days, unless you ride a motorcycle. May 25, 2021

Passenger vehicle fatalities in the United States have declined recently, but not motorcyclist deaths, which total about 5,000 each year. Some reasons for that are obvious, as Senior Research Scientist Mike Manser notes, but the bigger picture is more complex. Advocates continue to prioritize robust safety programs targeting not only motorcyclists, but also those who share the road with them.

Hey, Where’s My Amazon Order? Promises of super-fast delivery are straining our transportation system. May 11, 2021

The pandemic and a record-setting holiday shopping season made 2020 a year like no other for the freight and delivery industry. TTI Senior Research Engineer Bill Eisele helps us understand how clicking Next Day Delivery or Same Day Delivery directly impacts (and imposes lasting consequences on) our transportation network.

Ante Up. Are all road users paying their fair share? Apr 27, 2021

Not all classes of vehicles are created equal, because they aren’t charged uniformly for how they use our transportation network. Associate Research Scientist Brianne Glover looks at how the changing mix of cars and trucks — and questions of equity and balance — might alter how we fund our roads and bridges in the future.

May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor. Celebrating 20 years of improved young driver safety. Apr 13, 2021

Car crashes have long been the leading cause of serious injury for people under age 25 in America, and in most years the top cause of death for teenagers. Russell Henk, an expert in young driver safety, outlines how a reward-based incentive program can provide a strong complement to traditional law enforcement efforts in helping novice drivers embrace positive driving behaviors changes for the rest of their lives.

Good News, Bad News. A better grade for America’s infrastructure, but still no bragging rights. Mar 30, 2021

American roads and bridges get us to where we live, learn, work, shop, and play. And that network has needed repair for a while, now. TTI experts Edith Arámbula Mercado and Charles Gurganus explain how maintaining the nation’s infrastructure is a lot like taking care of our own homes. The longer we postpone necessary upkeep, the higher the cost will be.

Policy, Priorities, and Possibilities. What might we see from new leadership at USDOT? Mar 16, 2021

Presidential administrations and their appointees come and go, but USDOT’s mobility mission remains constant. Challenges span a wide spectrum from yesterday’s aging infrastructure to tomorrow’s emerging technologies. Transportation is the circulatory system of the American way of life, Greg Winfree reminds us, and potholes don’t come with “R” or “D” labels.

Promises, Promises. Turns out, building a self-driving car is a lot harder than we thought. Mar 02, 2021

Autonomous vehicles were supposed to be more widely available by now, but they’re not. So, what happened? Those cars have to learn how to do more than just drive, TTI Senior Research Scientist Bob Brydia tells us. They have to learn how to think, too.

Does the Road Go On Forever? We can’t just pave our way out of traffic congestion. Feb 23, 2021

Our 2020 experience taught us we can reduce roadway gridlock drastically in the face of a public health crisis, by reducing the demand for road space. According to TTI Senior Research Scientist David Schrank, the bigger test will come in whether we can do so once the crisis is over.

Whoa, That Was Close! Can we prevent crashes from happening by studying the ones that almost happened? Feb 12, 2021

Nearly all new vehicles have some degree of self-driving capability and internet connectivity. Every time one of those cars corrects a lane-departing drift, brakes hard, or senses a sharp speed boost, it sends a message. And if we listen to those signals, we could save a lot of lives. Host Bernie Fette talks with TTI’s Research Scientist Eva Shipp and Senior Research Engineer Shawn Turner about a revolutionary approach to preventing crashes.

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