Thinking Transportation: Engaging Conversations about Transportation Innovations

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.

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