Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University’s Post

This week, MPO Executive Director Tegin Teich appeared on a panel of policy experts at a Boston City Council hearing on the possibility of instituting congestion pricing in the Boston area. Tegin discussed research by MPO staff examining the benefits, opportunities, and challenges public agencies faced in implementing roadway pricing programs in urban areas across the U.S. MPO staff highlighted four key considerations for the successful implementation of roadway pricing programs: ‣ Building buy-in for policies throughout the planning and design of programs ‣ Setting prices strategically to change travel behavior and reduce congestion ‣ Designing strategies to mitigate burdens on low-income communities ‣ Continuous evaluation and data collection to improve policies Read the MPO’s report, Learning From Roadway Pricing Experiences, at bostonmpo.org/trending. Through further policy research and analysis, the MPO will continue contributing to the knowledge base around congestion pricing so that policymakers have the necessary data and information as they consider these strategies and what could work for the Boston area.

GIS plays a crucial role in Asset Management, empowering decision-makers with both long and short-term asset plans, especially in time of emergency events. #utilities #water #gis

With the government’s Integrated Transport Strategy due to be published this week I thought I’d dust off my Masters' Dissertation from 2021 which looked at the role played by English local and devolved government in getting major and mega transport projects off the ground. This was part of my MSc Infrastructure, Planning, Appraisal and Development at The Bartlett School of Planning UCL. I looked at Nottingham Express Transit ("traditional" local govt), Midland Metro (Mayoral Combined Authority) and Crossrail (Greater London Authority) and reviewed them against three theories to understand why the projects got going (theories were Growth Coalitions, Agenda-Setting and Path Dependency). I then considered the conclusions and applied them to Northern Powerhouse Rail. I was incredibly fortunate to interview project practitioners, senior leaders and former cabinet ministers involved in all of these projects. My research found that local and devolved government are a key factor in the successful initiation of Major and Mega Transport Projects. Nottingham and Manchester both stood out in the interviews as councils that were essential in securing the investment for their respective tram systems with a combination of strong officer and political leadership. The introduction of the Mayor of London and Mayoral Combined Authorities gave these huge areas broader powers and legitimacy to speak for their areas. Together with their greater strategic capacity and capabilities they have forged ahead with projects which previously were stalled. The experience of Crossrail is instructive as getting such a large, complex and expensive project funded through a blend of local and national sources would be difficult without the Mayor, GLA and TfL. The ability of the WMCA to rectify issues with the original Midland Metro scheme from the 1990s and expand the network further would also have been challenging without the city-regional structure. There was broad consensus amongst interviewees from all levels of government that local and devolved government should be given more powers to drive projects forward and coordinate with other projects in their areas. The government have set out a clear direction of travel on devolution and it will be fascinating to see how this develops in the future. If you've got any questions about the research please do get in touch.

"I have long believed that a transportation agency exists for two reasons: to save lives and to make people’s lives better." - Shailen Bhatt Last week Bhatt testified before the Senate EPW Committee discussing how the #FHWA has disbursed funding from the #IIJA and the Inflation Reduction Act and what still needs to be done. - Accelerating Project Delivery: Continue efforts to streamline funding processes and expedite project completion, such as the permanent team overseeing grants-management. - Enhancing Safety Initiatives: Implement safety programs like the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program and the Intersection Safety Challenge, with the goal of reducing roadway fatalities. - Expanding EV Infrastructure: Work on expanding the national electric vehicle (EV) charging network, including executing grant agreements to increase the number of charging ports. - Improving Climate Resilience: Allocate funds from programs like the PROTECT Discretionary Grant Program to make transportation infrastructure more resilient to climate change and natural disasters. - Emergency Relief: Continue providing financial support for transportation systems affected by climate-related and other disasters, such as the response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Testimony Link: https://lnkd.in/g_TjXTqy

Letters of intent are now being accepted for the Transportation Alternatives (TA) program through the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT). TA is a program that uses federal transportation funds, designated by Congress, for specific activities that enhance the inter-modal transportation system and provide safe alternative transportation options. TA encompasses a variety of smaller-scale non-motorized transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management, and environmental mitigation related to storm water and habitat connectivity. Approximately $8 million is available through a competitive project selection process administered by the SDDOT Project Development Office. Projects may be limited to $600,000 depending on annual funding allowance. The minimum for infrastructure projects will be $50,000. There is no minimum for non-infrastructure projects. The minimum local match requirement is 18.05%. A full description of the TA program is available online on the SDDOT Transportation Alternatives webpage at https://lnkd.in/g5Zw6K6h. The submittal of a letter of intent form, found on the webpage, is a mandatory requirement to be eligible to submit a full application for funding. The deadline to submit letter of intent forms is Monday, July 15, 2024. This will be the only call for Letters of Intent for the 2025 Fiscal Year. Requests for additional information, site visits and/or meetings on potential projects should be directed to Logan Gran, Active Transportation Engineer, at 605‐773‐4912 or via email at [email protected]. Following the receipt of the letters of intent, on‐site meetings with project sponsors will be scheduled prior to Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. The deadline for full applications is Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Read more about the innovative work of the SDDOT at https://dot.sd.gov. #SDDOT #SD511

Bus reform, eh? What even is that? Why is it important? How do we do it? If you're a University of Melbourne student, join us this semester for Public Transport Network Planning (ABPL90090) and we'll explore and apply the concepts, tools, and techniques that you'll need to radically reimagine urban public transport networks. PTNP is a postgraduate elective in the Master of Urban Planning, but we're very welcoming to students from other disciplines and faculties. https://lnkd.in/exJx3e9R

What is a Traffic Impact Assessment and why is it important to conduct them? * A Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) is a comprehensive evaluation of the potential effects that a development project—such as residential complexes, commercial hubs, transportation terminals, or other infrastructure—may have on traffic flow and safety. This assessment is crucial for understanding how new constructions might influence urban traffic patterns, including the operational capacity and safety of nearby roads. * A TIA is required for any project that is likely to generate significant traffic or alter the existing road network. Its primary goals include: 1. Assessing Current and Future Traffic Conditions: Evaluating existing traffic patterns and forecasting future demand in the study area; 2. Identifying Potential Traffic Impacts: Analyzing how the proposed development may affect surrounding roadways; 3. Proposing Mitigation Measures: Suggesting strategies to alleviate or prevent negative traffic impacts and safety risks; and 4. Evaluating Mitigation Feasibility: Assessing the practicality and effectiveness of proposed solutions. #GLINCELtd #TrafficImpactAssessments #TransportationPlanning

🛣️ How UK and France Are Redefining Highway Infrastructure 🇬🇧🇫🇷 In the past quarter-century, the UK and France have transformed their highway maintenance and infrastructure strategies to meet modern economic and sustainability demands. The UK's National Infrastructure Strategy aims for substantial, consistent investment to support growth and a net-zero economy. This plan includes a £100 billion commitment for economic infrastructure until 2025, emphasizing the need for enduring policy and strategic public and private investments (NIC). France's improvements in its highway network from 1978 to 1998 reduced transport costs by 3.2%, highlighting the strategic importance of infrastructure in economic efficiency and regional development. Moreover, recent French investments have continued to focus on integrating trade cost reductions with infrastructure improvements, demonstrating a clear vision of infrastructure's role in economic enhancement. Highways England's recent £3.3 billion program showcases the UK's effort to enhance road quality through extensive repair and resurfacing projects, with significant portions of this investment directed towards creating smart motorways. These motorways utilize technology to manage traffic flow and increase safety, marking a shift towards more intelligent infrastructure systems. Both nations' infrastructure strategies indicate a strong leadership role in managing and advancing road networks, which is crucial for achieving long-term economic, environmental, and social goals. The ongoing commitment to innovative, sustainable infrastructure solutions underscores the potential for significant impacts on national and regional economic landscapes. #InfrastructureDevelopment #SmartMotorways #EconomicImpact #SustainableInfrastructure #FutureOfTransport

72 Transportation Projects - 5 Ways to Comment There are 72 local transportation projects in the Winston-Salem Urban Area under consideration for funding in the 2026-2035 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Tell us which ones are most important to you. The MPO helps decide 25% of a project's final score through "local input points." Local input points put projects in a better position to be programmed. The Winston-Salem Urban Area MPO has 1,400 points it can put toward these projects. The MPO plans to put 1,400 points toward: 🛣️ 6 highway projects, 🚲5 bicycle and pedestrian projects, 🚌 2 transit projects, 🚂 1 rail project, and ✈️1 aviation project. Review the Division Needs Project List and Point Assignment Proposal here: https://lnkd.in/e4dEZeDQ. Then tell us what you think: 💬 At our public meeting on October 28, 2024 anytime between 5-7 pm @ Central Library in Downtown Winston-Salem. 🗺️ On our interactive map at https://arcg.is/11qLmv1. 📩 By emailing [email protected]. 📝 Through our online survey form at https://lnkd.in/ejAq9Hz3. 📫 By sending a letter to our address below.

How does infrastructure affect home prices? Today's The Australian Financial Review reports modelling by Infrastructure Victoria shows that being located within 1.6 kilometres of a hospital or major activity centre increases home prices by an average of 1 per cent - https://lnkd.in/gKUdJMbv Our research examined the residential property value premium of proximity to different types of infrastructure to find out how being close to good infrastructure affects home prices. We generally found homes sold for significantly higher prices when they were close to: • major metropolitan activity centres • metropolitan train stations • tram stops • hospitals • secondary schools. Want to know more? Check out our report 'Measuring Home Price Differences' - https://lnkd.in/g5dNyq9u #infrastructure #victoria #property #prices #research #evidence