OTREC Events

Environment: Planning for Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions - GreenSTEP (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

May 25, 2012 12:00 pm - May 25, 2012 1:00 pm

When:

Abstract: Climate change may be the most serious and urgent issue facing the transportation sector. Transportation is both a major producer of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is also vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Major reductions in GHG emissions from the transportation sector will be needed in order to avoid the most serious effects of climate change. Travel models can play an important role in evaluating strategies for reducing transportation sector GHG emissions, but prevailing travel models do not address a number of factors that significantly affect GHG emissions. The GreenSTEP model was developed to fill this gap. The model estimates household level vehicle travel, energy consumption, and GHG emissions. GreenSTEP is currently being used to assist the development of ODOT's Statewide Transportation Strategy for reducing GHG emissions and Metro's Climate Smart Communities scenario planning process.

Speaker Bio: Brian Gregor is a senior transportation analyst for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) where for the past 15 years he has worked on a variety of transportation and land use modeling and analysis projects. He is the principal developer of the GreenSTEP and Land Use Scenario DevelopeR (LUSDR) models. He has also worked on the development and application of Oregon's Statewide Integrated Model (SWIM), lead the automation of ODOT's modeling processes using the R programming language, and authored several reports on congestion and commuting in Oregon. Previously, Brian worked as a local land use planner and as an environmental analyst, region planner, and transportation and land use policy specialist at ODOT. In the latter role, he developed ODOT's State Agency Coordination Program and worked with the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) on writing the original Transportation Planning Rules. Brian is a registered professional traffic engineer and has a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Oregon.

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2012 Oregon Transportation Summit

September 10, 2012 8:00 am - September 10, 2012 4:00 pm

The 4th Annual Oregon Transportation Summit will be held on Monday, September 10, 2012 rom 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Portland State University.

Agenda, schedule and registration details are available at http://otrec.us/events/special/OTS

Short Course: Comprehensive Bicycle Planning and Design

August 20-24, 2012

Portland State University

The field of bicycle planning is rapidly evolving.  This course will bring you up to speed on the cutting edge in practice and research, offering valuable skills for your professional life. It will cover the fundamentals of bicycle planning and design through an intensive week of interactive classroom and field experience. Instructors will integrate transit access and connections, bridges, trail crossings, and other special features into discussions, while using project examples to highlight practical applications of the principles and techniques discussed.

The cost for this course is $995 ($1075 if bicycle rental is needed) and includes coffee, snacks, lunch, and course materials. Groups of three or more from the same agency, registering at the same time, each receive a discount of $50 off the registration fee.  More information and registration: http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/courses.php

Moving Toward a Sustainable Oregon: The Future of Modeling and Decision Tools (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

June 8, 2012 11:59 am - June 8, 2012 12:59 pm

Abstract: This seminar concludes the eight week exploration of transportation models and decision tools with a look to the future. Oregon is known for its history of forward thinking policies around sustainable transportation, including linking land use and transportation planning at the regional level, investments in transit and non-motorized modes, and statewide legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To aid these transportation planning and policy decisions, Oregon has developed some of the most sophisticated models and analytic tools currently in use in the United States. As Oregon moves forward to address the next set of challenges - energy security, climate change, economic constraints and equity, models will need to provide new information at different spatial and temporal scales to support long range planning - 30 to 50 years out - as well as near term decisions - 1 to 5 years ahead. Lynn Peterson, Governor Kitzhaber's Sustainable Communities and Transportation Policy Advisor, will discuss her vision for a sustainable Oregon and outline the key issues facing the state and its communities. Keith Lawton, consultant and former transportation planner at Metro, will respond by discussing the next steps for model development and application needed to support this agenda.

Speaker Bios: 

Lynn Peterson is the Governor’s Sustainable Communities and Transportation Policy Advisor. Ms. Peterson leads the Governor’s policy efforts on transportation initiatives including, high speed rail, freight and highway planning and improvement, the Solar Highway, and linking transportation to housing and sustainability. Ms. Peterson will provide an update on Oregon’s sustainability program and what this means for planners working in and for cities and counties in Oregon.

Keith Lawton is a transport modeling consultant and past Director of Technical services, Metro Planning Department, Portland, OR. He has been active in model development for over 40 years. He was involved with the application of TRANSIMS in Portland. Has led the development of the first tour-based activity model set at an MPO, which was used in a road pricing study at Metro, and been a leader in developing an integrated land-use and transportation model, which has seen project application in Portland. He has also led the move to include the effects of urban design on transport demand, and to embed these model elements in the Portland trip-based models. He has a BSc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Natal (South Africa), and an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Duke University. He is a member emeritus and past Chair of the TRB Committee on Travel Demand Forecasting.
 

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Short Course: Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Planning

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Portland State University

Nonmotorized transportation planning and engineering has evolved over the last several years, but there are few resources or learning opportunities which cover the current state of the practice and its best practices. This comprehensive, one-day workshop will provide participants with the tools and knowledge to produce pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plans for their communities. The curriculum will draw from the experiences and lessons learned from the bicycle and pedestrian planning processes in Oregon and across the country.

The course content will be supplemented by a detailed Best Practices handbook with relevant references and resources, including a sample plan outline and descriptions of optional plan appendices.

Who should attend? Transportation professionals who are responsible for developing, updating and implementing bicycle and pedestrian master plans at the community or regional level.

The cost for this course is $295 and includes coffee, snacks, lunch, and course materials. Groups of three or more from the same agency, registering at the same time, each receive a discount of $50 off the registration fee.  More information and registration: http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/courses.php

Goods Movement: Improving Freight Routing Modeling Capabilities (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

June 1, 2012 12:00 pm - June 1, 2012 1:00 pm

When:

Abstract: The ability to fully understand and accurately characterize freight route choice is one that will support freight modeling frameworks, and regional and state transportation decisions. This ability, when combined with regional and state commodity flow data, can compose an effective statewide freight modeling framework. Typically, transportation network models take a shortest path assumption for truck routing both for strategic and operational routing decisions. The goal of this research was to determining how different subgroups of shippers, carriers, and receivers make route choices, and to understand how these approaches vary across types of routing decisions. We consider route changes of both a spatial and temporal manner. This talk presents the results of a survey of over 800 shippers, carriers, and receivers in Washington State, and recommends a framework for improving the modeling of routing decisions in existing network models.

Speaker Bio: Professor Anne Goodchild has worked and studied in the transportation field for more than 15 years. Her initial experience in management consulting for transportation providers was followed by the completion of a PhD at UC Berkeley and research experience while developing the freight transportation program at the University of Washington. In addition to a BS in mathematics and an MS and PhD in Civil Engineering, Dr. Goodchild completed minors in Economics and Operations Research. This, combined with her experience in consulting, has created a strong interest in the relationship between freight transportation activity, business practice and the economy. This has led her to engage in many projects that are working to integrate business practice or shipper and carrier behavior, into freight transportation models. Dr. Goodchild is chair of the Seattle Freight Advisory Board, and the paper review coordinator for the Freight Transportation Planning and Logistics, and Intermodal Committees of the Transportation Research Board.

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Jarrett Walker Presents “Human Transit” in Eugene and Portland

International transit consultant and author Jarrett Walker (Human Transit: How Clearer Thinking about Public Transit Can Enrich Our Communities and Our Lives) will be the 2012 Expert in Residence for the University of Oregon's Sustainable Cities Initiative. In partnership with OTREC, Walker will give a series of presentations across several days:

• Wednesday, May 16, 6:00 to 7:45 p.m. in Eugene at the University of Oregon, Lillis Hall, Room 182. Social Hour and lecture (watch the webcast live)
• Thursday, May 17, 7:00 p.m. in Portland at Portland State University, Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 338. Public lecture.
• Friday, May 18, 12:00 p.m. in Portland at Portland State University, Urban Center Distance Learning Annex, Room 204. Public lecture (watch the webcast live or archived)

About the talk: The historic divide between spacial planning and transport planning has caused many crucial insights to remain stuck on one side of the divide. When dealing with public transit, Jarrett Walker argues that planners urgently need a clearer view of transit's fundamentals. These are often lost track of amid the excitement of a particular project, resulting in development where efficient (and therefore abundant) transit is impossible. This talk reviews the much-ignored principles of efficient transit networks, bus or rail, and argues that true "transit-oriented development" must be consist with those principles. These principles yield surprising conclusions both about many New Urbanist projects, and also about the potential of 82nd Avenue and similar "sprawl arterials."

Speaker Bio: Jarrett Walker is an international consultant in public transit network design and policy.  He has been a full-time consultant since 1991 and has led numerous major planning projects in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.  He currently serves as a Principal Consultant with MRCagney based in Australia.  He provides expert advice to clients worldwide

Born in 1962, he grew up in Portland, Oregon during the revolutionary 1970s, the era when Portland first made its decisive commitment to be a city for people rather than cars.  He went on to complete a BA at Pomona College (Claremont, California) and a Ph.D. in theatre arts and humanities at Stanford University.  Passionately interested in an impractical number of fields, he is probably the only person with peer-reviewed publications in both the Journal of Transport Geography and Shakespeare Quarterly.  In addition to Human Transit, he also writes on botany, creative writing, performing arts, and a range of other interests on his personal blog, Creature of the Shade.

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Risk and Uncertainty: All Models Are Wrong But Some Are Useful (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

May 11, 2012 12:00 pm - May 11, 2012 1:00 pm

When:

Abstract: Models are used for many different purposes. Some seek to impart understanding of the system under study, while others seeks to understand dynamics. Most of the models considered in this course are also used for forecasting likely future levels of demand and its impact upon the built and natural environment. Unlike models of purely physical systems these models attempt to capture the interactions between people and institutions. Social systems are considerably more complex and chaotic. They are shaped by disruptive technologies, changing markets, economic cycles, and cultural influences that a difficult to predict, much less their subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) interaction effects. Uncertainty creeps into forecasting as a result, creating risk that a policy or investment may have unintended consequences, under-perform, or be short-lived. Transportation and land use modelers have typically only weakly accommodated such realities in their forecasts. Policy-makers and investors are increasingly demanding a more explicit accounting of risk and uncertainty in forecasting. This discussion will focus on how this will affect the practice of modeling in the future.

Speaker Bio: Rick Donnelly has over 25 years of experience in the modeling and simulation of transportation systems, from the urban to national level. His current interests include agent-based modeling of freight and logistics, integrated land use-transportation models, and dynamic network modeling. Rick leads the travel modeling and simulation practice at Parsons Brinckerhoff, an international civil and transportation engineering consultancy. He is also a senior fellow at the University of Melbourne, where he earned his doctorate in engineering, and a visiting scholar at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Low Stress Bicycling and Bike Network Connectivity (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

May 4, 2012 11:59 am - May 4, 2012 12:59 pm

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Land Use Models: An Introduction for Non-Modelers (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

April 27, 2012 12:00 pm - April 27, 2012 1:00 pm

When:

Abstract: This seminar will introduce land use models to non-modelers. It will cover the basic concepts of land use models and evolving approaches of land use modeling. It will examine how these models and the questions their users are being asked to respond to have evolved over the past two decades. In particular, it will discuss an integrated approach with transportation models that are increasingly used to inform land use and transportation planning. The seminar concludes with a discussion of the limitations and new directions of land use modeling research and practice.

Speaker Bio: Liming Wang is an assistant researcher in the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley. He did his PhD research at the University of Washington, Seattle, on the topic of integrated urban modeling. His current research projects include integration of land use model with activity-based travel model, and visualization techniques to enable public participation in planning process. Besides leading the development of UrbanSim, an open source land use modeling system, since 2009, he has also been involved in the deployment of integrated transportation and land use modeling system in Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, San Francisco, Honolulu, Paris, and Zurich.

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Integrated Models: What They Are and How They Help (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

April 20, 2012 12:00 pm - April 20, 2012 1:00 pm

When:

Abstract: Integrated land use transportation models simulate the behavior of the spatial economic system and the interactions between the transportation system and the rest of the economic system. The essential elements of these models are explicit treatment of space in economic production and consumption behavior, both the space that is the physical areas that contain production processes and the space that separates different production locations and gives rise to the demand for travel and transport. They put travel within an economic context, and thus facilitate simulation of the impacts of transportation policy and planning actions and transportation conditions on the wider economic system. As such, integrated models can be used address complex policy questions that more limited transportation models cannot address, or cannot address well.

This seminar will set out the basic scope and form of integrated models and discusses several of the key advantages they provide for planning. Experiences gained in the practical applications of the Oregon SWIM and Sacramento MEPLAN and PECAS integrated models will be described. These experiences will be used to illustrate the added benefits arising with such models in terms of more efficient land use forecasting, more complete analysis of cumulative and indirect impacts and more holistic consideration of policy in general, more evaluation of economic impacts with greater relevance, and more effective communication among those concerned with transportation and land use decision-making. This will lead to a more general finding that integrated models can contribute usefully in practical contexts by informing actual policy questions and providing measures to help policy-makers make difficult trade-off decisions.

Speaker Bio: Dr JD (‘Doug’) Hunt is a Professor of Transportation Engineering and Planning in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Calgary. He has been at the University of Calgary since 1991. Before that, Doug was a professor at the University of Alberta and he has also worked in industry in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Doug has a BSc from the University of Alberta and a PhD from Cambridge University. At the University of Calgary, Doug teaches courses in transportation, urban and regional systems, modelling and statistical analysis. His research interests concern the human element in transportation and spatial economic systems – focusing particularly on the mathematical modelling and computer-based simulation of these systems and the impact of these systems on the larger economy. A major thrust of his work is the practical application of advanced modelling techniques. He is also active in specialized consulting to governments in the development and application of advanced modelling techniques. Doug enjoys a strong international reputation, having developed the PECAS modelling system, helped develop the MEPLAN modelling system, and worked on transport and/or transport and land use models of London and South-East England, Naples, Barcelona, Madrid, Dublin, Dortmund, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, Detroit, Baltimore, Oregon, Ohio, Sweden, Alsace, Central Chile, Edmonton and Calgary – to name just some. He also spent 4 years as special advisor to British Rail concerning the Channel Tunnel Rail Link patronage forecasting.

Activity & Transportation Models: An Introduction for Non-Modelers (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

April 13, 2012 12:00 pm - April 13, 2012 1:00 pm

When:

Abstract: This seminar will introduce travel models to non-modelers. It will build off the previous seminar, which introduced models in general, and discuss two primary approaches to travel modeling – four-step aggregate models and activity-based disaggregate models. The inputs, basic model methodology, and outputs of each approach will be discussed. An example of each approach will be discussed as well. The goal of the seminar is to introduce key concepts, basic differences between the two approaches, and discuss the benefits and shortcomings of each approach, with a focus on application.

Speaker Bio: Ben Stabler is a supervising planner with Parsons Brinckerhoff who specializes in planning modeling systems development. Ben has worked locally, as well as internationally, on numerous four-step and activity-based travel demand and land use modeling systems and has presented at various conferences, including TRB, the TRB Planning Applications Conference, and the Innovations in Travel Modeling conference. He is a certified GIS Professional and has worked in travel forecasting for Oregon DOT as well as PTV – the makers of VISUM and VISSIM. Ben is a member of the TRB Urban Transportation Data and Information Systems Committee (ABJ30) and is an active member of the Oregon Modeling Users Group.

Sustainable Design and Transportation: Verifiably Measuring the Carbon Benefits

April 12, 2012 12:00 pm - April 12, 2012 1:00 pm

Join us for a presentation by Projjal Dutta, NY Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s first-ever Director, Sustainability. He tries to reduce MTA’s environmental footprint and quantify carbon benefits that accrue to the region from transit. This unrecognized service, if priced, can generate substantial resources for transit.

When: Thursday, April 12, 2012 from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Portland State University, Urban Center (SW 6th and Mill), Parsons Gallery, Level 2

Who: Free and Open to the Public

Sponsored by PSU's College of Urban and Public Affairs and the Oregon Transportation Research and Education Consortium

Free Seminar: Livable Streets Where People Live - European Fellowship

April 11, 2012 12:00 pm - April 11, 2012 1:00 pm

Denver Igarta, a planner with the Portland Bureau of Transportation, spent the month of November meeting with planners, advocates, urban designers and engineers in Munich (Germany), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Copenhagen (Denmark) and Malmo (Sweden), on a fellowship sponsored by the German Marshall Fund. His presentation will share lessons on how these cities have structured their street systems to provide for mobility and access while still protecting residential areas from the negative effects of motor vehicle traffic.

When: Wednesday, April 11, 2012 from Noon to 1:00 p.m.

Where: Portland State University, Engineering Building (1930 SW 4th Avenue), Room 315 ("ITS Lab")

Who: Free and Open to the Public

Additional information

• Read more about Denver's studies in Europe on his blog
• Read an (unofficial) draft of his short research paper about livable streets in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden

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What Are Models? Learning to Love Modeling and the Challenges It Brings (Friday Seminar @ PSU)

April 6, 2012 12:00 pm - April 6, 2012 1:00 pm

When:

Abstract: We all use abstractions of reality to help understand the world around us, synthesize knowledge, and to predict the consequences of our actions. These range from ad hoc mental models to highly complex mathematical creations. In this discussion we'll examine the motivations for building formal models, with particular focus on the types of models that will be explored in this course. Several different modeling approaches will be compared, along with the strengths and limitations of each. Some important questions that builders and consumers of models should ask will be covered, as well as ideas for building more useful and informative models. A discussion on how to judge the validity of a model will round out the discussion.

Speaker Bio: Rick Donnelly has over 25 years of experience in the modeling and simulation of transportation systems, from the urban to national level. His current interests include agent-based modeling of freight and logistics, integrated land use-transportation models, and dynamic network modeling. Rick leads the travel modeling and simulation practice at Parsons Brinckerhoff, an international civil and transportation engineering consultancy. He is also a senior fellow at the University of Melbourne, where he earned his doctorate in engineering, and a visiting scholar at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Spring 2012 Transportation Seminar Series: Oregon Modeling Collaborative

April 6, 2012 12:00 pm - June 8, 2012 1:00 pm

OTREC and the Center for Transportation Studies at Portland State University are pleased to present a series of free seminars on transportation modeling. These seminars provide decision makers and others interested in transportation policy a nontechnical overview of transportation models and the role they play in decisions. The series is of particular value to those struggling to understand new scenario planning requirements in greenhouse gas reduction legislation. All seminars run from noon to 1 p.m. Click on the individual seminar title for more information. This seminar series is produced in partnership with the Oregon Modeling Collaborative.
 

#1. What Are Models?
Learning to Love Modeling and the Challenges It Brings

Seminar Date: Friday, April 6
Featured Speaker: Rick Donnelly
Seminar Description: We all use abstractions of reality to help understand the world around us, synthesize knowledge, and to predict the consequences of our actions. This discussion will examine the motivations for building formal models and compare different modeling approaches, along with the strengths and limitations of each. Highlights: important questions that builders and consumers of models should ask, as well as ideas for building more useful and informative models.

 

#2. Activity and Transportation Models
An Introduction to Travel Models for Non-Modelers

Seminar Date Friday, April 13
Featured Speaker:  Ben Stabler
Seminar Description:Building from the previous seminar, which introduced models in general, this seminar will introduce two primary approaches to travel modeling: four-step aggregate models and activity-based disaggregate models. The inputs, basic model methodology, and outputs of each approach will be discussed. An example of each approach will be discussed as well. The goal of the seminar is to introduce key concepts, basic differences between the two approaches, and discuss the benefits and shortcomings of each approach, with a focus on application.
 

#3. Integrated Models
What They Are and How They Help

Seminar Date: Friday, April 20
Featured Speaker: John Douglas Hunt
Seminar Description: Integrated land use transportation models simulate the behavior of the spatial economic system and the interactions between the transportation system and the rest of the economic system. This seminar will describe the basic scope and form of integrated models as well as the key advantages they provide for planning. The seminar will rely on several examples (Oregon SWIM, Sacramento MEPLAN and PECAS) to illustrate how integrated models can both effectively inform policy questions and provide measures to help policy-makers handle difficult trade-off decisions.

#4. Land Use Models
Microsimulation Approach for Integrated Land Use- Transportation Modeling: UrbanSim and Its Application

Seminar Date: Friday, April 27
Featured Speaker: Liming Wang
Seminar Description:  This seminar presents UrbanSim, a dynamic microsimulation approach to land use modeling. Using practical applications in the Puget Sound region and the San Francisco Bay Area, the talk will explain how the model enables a larger range of policy scenario inputs, greater flexibility in examination of modeling outcomes and better representation of heterogeneous agents and path dependence in urban systems. The talk concludes with an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the dynamic microsimulation approach for integrated land use-transportation modeling.

#5. Risk and Uncertainty
All Models are Wrong, But Some are Useful

Seminar Date:Friday, May 11
Featured Speakers: Rick Donnelly
Seminar Description: Unlike models of purely physical systems the models discussed in this seminar attempt to capture the interactions between people and institutions. Social systems are considerably more complex and chaotic than physical systems. Uncertainty creeps into forecasting as a result, creating risk that a policy or investment may have unintended consequences, under-perform, or be short-lived. Policy-makers and investors are increasingly demanding a more explicit accounting of risk and uncertainty in forecasting. This discussion will focus on how this will affect the practice of modeling in the future.
 

#6. GreenSTEP
A Strategic Planning Model for Addressing Transportation Greenhouse Gas Mitigation

Seminar Date: Friday, May 25
Featured Speakers: Brian Gregor
Seminar Description:Climate change may be the most serious and urgent issue facing the transportation sector. Travel models can play an important role in evaluating strategies for reducing transportation sector GHG emissions, but prevailing travel models do not address a number of factors that significantly affect GHG emissions. The GreenSTEP model, which estimateshousehold level vehicle travel, energy consumption, and GHG emissions, was developed to fill this gap. GreenSTEP is currently being used to assist the development of ODOT's Statewide Transportation Strategy for reducing GHG emissions and Metro's Climate Smart Communities scenario planning process.

#7. Freight
Improving Freight Routing Modeling Capabilities

Seminar Date: Friday, June 1
Featured Speakers: Anne Goodchild
Seminar Description: Typically, transportation network models take a shortest path assumption for truck routing both for strategic and operational routing decisions. The goal of Professor Goodchild's research was to determine how different subgroups of shippers, carriers, and receivers make route choices, and to understand how these approaches vary across types of routing decisions. We consider route changes of both a spatial and temporal manner.This talk presents the results of a survey of over 800 shippers, carriers, and receivers in Washington State, and recommends a framework for improving the modeling of routing decisions in existing network models.

#8. Synthesis
Moving Toward a Sustainable Oregon - The Future of Modeling and Decision Tools

Seminar Date: Friday, June 8
Featured Speakers: Lynn Peterson & Keith Lawton
Seminar Description: This seminar concludes the eight week exploration of transportation models and decision tools with a look to the future. As Oregon moves forward to address the next set of challenges - energy security, climate change, economic constraints and equity, models will need to provide new information at different spatial and temporal scales to support long range planning - 30 to 50 years out - as well as near term decisions - 1 to 5 years ahead. Lynn Peterson, Governor Kitzhaber's Sustainable Communities and Transportation Policy Advisor, will discuss her vision for a sustainable Oregon. Keith Lawton, consultant and former transportation planner at Metro, will respond by discussing the next steps for model development and application needed to support this agenda.

Free Training: Amendments to the Transportation Planning Rule & Oregon Highway Plan

March 22, 2012 1:00 pm - March 22, 2012 4:00 pm

OTREC is pleased to host the following training, which is produced cooperative by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Oregon Department of Transportation.

When: Thursday, March 22, 2012, 1-4 p.m.

Where: Portland State University, Urban Center (SW 6th and Mill), Room 204

Who: Matt Crall, Department of Land Conservation & Development; Michael Rock and Lidwien Rahman, Oregon Department of Transportation

What: An overview and discussion of the amended Transportation Planning Rule (TPR) 0060 and amended Oregon Highway Plan (OHP) Policy 1F (see agenda below for details).

Resources

• Archived Webcast
• Presentation Slides
• TPR Amendments Summary
• TPR Amendments
• OHP Policy
• OHP

Training Agenda

1:00 - Welcome & Overview

1:10 - Background

1:30 - Transportation Planning Rule Amendments - Matt Crall, DLCD

2:00 - Oregon Highway Plan Amendments - Michael Rock, ODOT

2:30 - Break, Webcast viewers can email questions to psuseminar@yahoo.com

2:40 - Questions and Discussion

3:20 - Statewide Wrap-up

3:30 - Perspectives on Implementation in the Portland Metro Region - Lidwien Rahman, ODOT

3:40 - Questions and Discussion Specific to the Portland Metro Region

4:00 - Adjourn

TRB Debrief with PSU Students

February 21, 2012 6:00 pm - February 21, 2012 8:00 pm

2012 Northwest Transportation Conference

February 7, 2012 8:00 am - February 9, 2012 5:00 pm

The Northwest Transportation Conference, formerly known as the Northwest Roads and Streets Conference, has been held approximately every two years since 1949. The conference has served as a forum for engineers, designers, builders, operators and other transportation officials from Oregon and Washington with attendance ranging from 300 to 500 participants. Conference topics have included all aspects and modes of transportation, from maintenance techniques and design standards to funding and organizational issues. The theme for 2012 is “Transportation and the Economy”. We anticipate that this theme lends itself to a wide range of pressing topics ranging from the economic value of mobility and access provided by an effective transportation system, to the impact of transportation spending as a stimulus.

Special Opportunities at the Conference include:

• Keynote presentation by Clifford Winston (Brookings Instiution)
• Luncheon presentation by Oregon DOT Historian, Robert Hadlow, "The Columbia: America's Greatest Highway"
• Highway Safety Manual Workshop featuring Dr. Karen Dixon (Oregon State University)

For more information, visit http://kiewit.oregonstate.edu/nwtc/index.html

OTREC Welcomes Dale Bracewell: Free Seminar/Webinar

January 27, 2012 12:00 pm - January 27, 2012 1:00 pm

OTREC is please to welcome Dale Bracewell, the manager of Active Transportation in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mr. Bracewell is also notable for serving as the City's Director of Olympic Transportation during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Dale will be visiting Portland on January 26th and 27th to meet with faculty, students and practitioners. The focus of his visit is a seminar at Portland State University on Friday, January 27th from Noon to 1:00 p.m. that is free and open to the public. It is also available to watch online live (or later through our archive).

OTREC at TRB 2012, Wednesday

January 25, 2012 8:30 am - January 25, 2012 6:00 pm

Faculty and students affiliated with OTREC's four universities are involved in the following TRB sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. Each entry lists the session name as well as the title of the paper(s) authored or co-authored by OTREC affiliates. For complete details, please download OTREC's TRB Guide, 2012 Edition.

8:30-10:15

• Session 711: Innovations in Activity and Travel Behavior features “Traveling in Comfort: Investigating Weather Ranges for Travel.” Hilton, International Center.

10:15-12:00

• Session 738: Freeway and Arterial Analysis and Performance Measurement features “Do Mobility-Based Performance Measures Reflect Emissions Trends?” Hilton, Georgetown East.

4:30-6:00

• Session 797: Transit Capacity and Quality of Service: Exploring Reliability and Dwell Time features “Definition and Properties of Alternative Bus Service Reliability Measures at the Stop Level.” Hilton, Lincoln East

OTREC at TRB 2012, Tuesday

January 24, 2012 8:00 am - January 24, 2012 9:30 pm

Faculty and students affiliated with OTREC's four universities are involved in the following TRB sessions on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. Each entry lists the session name as well as the title of the paper(s) authored or co-authored by OTREC affiliates. For complete details, please download OTREC's TRB Guide, 2012 Edition.

8:00-9:45

• Session 465: Improving Roadway Safety Programs Through University-Agency Partnerships   features “Actions for Universities to Improve Collaboration.” Marriott, Delaware A.
• Session 474: Modeling Theories and Practices in Freight Planning and Logistics, Part 1 features “ Electric Commercial Vehicles: Study of Economic and Technological Factors Affecting Their Competitiveness.” Shoreham, Executive.
• Session 487: Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program Research Showcase features “Competitiveness of Commercial Electric Vehicles in the Less-Than-Truckload Delivery Industry: Model and Application.” Hilton, International West.

8:30-10:15 (Poster Sessions)

• Session 489: Design and Assessment of Traffic Signal Priority for Transit (P) features “A Study of the Factors that Influence Transit Signal Priority Effectiveness and Late Bus Recovery at the Signalized Intersection Level.” Marriott, Salon 2.
• Session 493: Research in Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics, Part 4 (P) features “Traffic Speed Variance Modeling with Application in Travel Time Variability Estimation.” Marriott, Salon 2.
• Session 498: Improved Safety Through Better Design for All Users (P) features “Risk Rating Procedure for Assessing Driveway Configurations.” Shoreham, Blue Room Foyer.
• Session 499: Current Environmental Issues in Transportation (P) features “An Empirical Study of the Impact of Freeway Traffic on in-Vehicle Exposure to Ultrafine Particulate Matter.” Hilton, International Center.

10:15-12:00

• Session 523: Big Ideas for Smaller Cities: Planning in Small and Medium-Sized Communities features “Planning of Secondary Road Network for Low-Speed Vehicles in Small or Medium-Sized City: Using Google Earth.” Hilton, Georgetown East.

10:45-12:30 (Poster Sessions)

• Session 539: Bicycle Planning and the Built Environment  (P) features two affiliated papers. Hilton, International Center.
  • “E-bikes and Transportation Policy: Insights from Early Adopters” 
  • “Commuter Cyclists' Sensitivity to Changes in Weather: Insight from Two Cities with Different Climatic Conditions” 
• Session 541: Current Issues in Energy, Climate Change, and Alternative Fuels in Transportation (P) features two affiliated papers. Hilton, International Center.
  • “Modeling the Effects of Congestion on Fuel Economy for Advanced Powertrain Vehicles” 
  • “Controversies and Policy Considerations Regarding the Promotion of New Energy Vehicles in China” 

2:00-3:45

• Session 575: Better Foundations Through Better Analysis and Design (P) features “Comprehensive Recalibration for WEAP of Load and Resistance Factor Design Pile Resistance Factor Under Initial and Restrike Conditions.” Marriott, Salon 2.
• Session 576: Investigation and Management of Geologic Hazards (P) features “Investigation of Straw Wattle Influence on Slope Stability.” Marriott, Salon 2.
• Session 600: Taking Urban Data to New Heights: New Sources, New Techniques,and New Applications features “The Development of a Decision Tool for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Strategies: The Role of NHTS Data in GreenSTEP Model Development.” Hilton, International Center.

3:45-5:30

• Session 604: Current Issues in School Transportation Safety features “ Integrating Parental Attitudes in Research on Children’s Active School Commuting: Evidence from a Community School Travel Survey.” Marriott, Maryland C.
• Session 628: New Technologies in Collecting and Archiving Nonmotorized Travel Data features two affiliated papers. Hilton, Georgetown West.
  • “Preliminary Development of Methods to Automatically Gather Bicycle Counts and Pedestrian Delay at Signalized Intersections”
  • “A Framework for Multimodal Arterial Data Archiving” 

7:30-9:30 (Poster Sessions)

• Session 646: Bicycle Safety and Infrastructure from a Multiuser Perspective (P) features “Multiuser Perspectives on Separated, On-street Bicycle Infrastructure.” Marriott, Thurgood Marshall West.
• Session 648: Highway Safety Performance  (P) features “ Comparing Highway Safety Manual Predictive Method to Traditional Ranking Methods: Case Study of Intersections in Corvallis, Oregon.” Marriott, Salon 2.
• Session 652: Pedestrian Safety and Operations  (P) features “Impact Analysis of Luggage-Carrying on Pedestrian Traffic.” Marriott, Salon 2.
• Session 653: Planning for Pedestrians (P) features two affiliated papers. Marriott, Salon 2.
  • “Mode Choice and Consumer Spending: Examination of Grocery Store Trips”
  • “Review of Walkability Measures and Proposal of Standardized Classification Scheme” 

OTREC at TRB 2012, Monday

January 23, 2012 8:00 am - January 23, 2012 9:30 pm

Friday Transportation Seminar: Sight Distance and Stopping Sight Distance

October 28, 2011 12:00 pm

Room 204 of the Distance Learning Center Wing of the Urban Center on the Portland State University campus. 12pm-1pm.

Speaker: Shane Brown, Washington State University

Topic: Student, Practitioner, and Faculty Context and Understanding of Sight Distance and Stopping Sight Distance

An extensive line of research on conceptual change in cognitive science and engineering education have shown that students do not possess fundamental understandings of engineering, science and mathematics concepts. Conceptual change is a particular kind of learning where the knowledge being learned interacts in a meaningful way with existing knowledge.  A barrier to learning concepts is the presence of misconceptions, or robust misunderstandings that are not easily changed by instruction.  A parallel line of research in situated cognition suggests that knowledge is embedded in a context and the tools and artifacts that are available at the time of knowledge application.  Additionally, for learning to be optimized, content should be taught in the context (e.g. engineering design) in which it will be applied.  Conceptual change and situated cognition combined suggest that current educational practice is not effective in preparing students to have deep understandings of concepts and how they are applied in engineering practice.   Extensive data was gathered on students, engineering practitioners, and faculty understanding of SD and SSD using clinical demonstration interview methods.  Textbooks were analyzed for their context and coverage of SD and SSD.  Students were found to have rich stories from personal experience that related to SD and SSD, but were generally unable to understand the concepts as they related to course material.  Engineer and faculty definitions and applications of SD and SSD were different, mostly in the amount of contextually rich descriptions included.  Textbook presentations of SD and SSD tended to lack the contexts described by the engineers and instead focus on equations and variables.  Results suggest that students are not learning the concepts of SD and SSD in a long-lasting and meaningful way and that the context in which these concepts are learned is much different than the way in which they are used in practice.

Friday Transportation Seminar: ‘Gasless and Cashless Take a Toll’

October 14, 2011 12:00 pm - October 14, 2011 1:00 pm

Room 204 of the Distance Learning Center Wing of the Urban Center on the Portland State University campus. 12pm-1pm.

Speaker: Christopher R Garlick, P.E., PMP, CSEP, Atkins North America, Toll Operations Program

Topic: “Gasless and Cashless take a Toll” – Sustainable and Non-stop mobility through User Fees

With the advent of the alternative fuels, it’s very appropriate that gasoline is based on fossil fuels and becoming ancient history. As the gas tax becomes less and less pertinent to adequately funding infrastructure, electronic cashless non-stop tolling options are a more viable solution to financing new projects and providing mobility to existing infrastructure. There are a number of technologies being evaluated for the future; including global position systems (GPS), existing proprietary radio frequency (RF) systems, open standard dedicated open standard dedicated short range communications (DSRC) systems, or the existing cellular networks are also being considered. This presentation will focus on what technologies are available and what emerging technologies are the most likely to emerge as an effective and affordable approach to funding user fees and infrastructure needs. This presentation will also describe how user fees and tolling systems can help the environment, reduce congestion, and provide effective cashless transportation systems based on equitable user fees.

2011 Oregon Transportation Summit

OTREC is pleased to present the 3rd Annual Oregon Transportation Summit on Friday, Sept. 9 at Portland State University. Produced in partnership with local chapters of the Women's Transportation Seminar, American Planning Association and Institute of Transportation Engineers, this unique conference seeks to bring together academic and practicing transportation professionals for a day of professional development. 

In addition to a dozen researchers from Oregon universities and an equal number of local experts, we are pleased to welcome a select group of out-of-town speakers, including:

• Linda Boyle (Seattle, Wash.): Linda is the director of the Human Factors and Statistical Modeling Lab at the University of Washington where she studies distracted driving.
• Tom Creasey (Knoxville, Tenn.): Tom is the transportation planning manager for ENTRAN. He is the lead speaker in a session on the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual. The session will examine how the new HCM can aid the development of livable communities.
• Jay Primus (San Francisco, Cal.): Jay is the manager of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority's SFPark initiative, which uses technology and dynamic pricing to improve parking.
• Craig Stone (Olympia, Wash.): Craig is the director of Washington DOT's Tolling Division and he oversees the department's tolling and "Smarter Highways" efforts.

The Summit begins with a plenary address by Johanna Zmud (RAND) on the transportation implications of the census; Metro Council President Tom Hughes will serve as discussant. The luncheon will feature a keynote speech by author Mark Ovenden who has followed up his popular Transit Maps of the World (2007) this year with Railway Maps of the World. Read OTREC's August 2011 interview with Mark.

For more information:

• Conference details
• Online registration

Looking to double-down on your professional development? Check out Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation's workshop on public engagement that will be held the afternoon before the Summit!

After the summit, for a unique blend of art and infrastructure, visit the Hidden Life of Bridges project, part of Portland's annual Time-Based Art festival.

Innovative Public Engagement for Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning

What: Innovative Public Engagement for Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning Building Consensus, Using New Technologies and Sustaining Momentum

When: Thursday, September 8th, 1 - 5 p.m.

Where: Portland State University

Registration: $75

Who: The course will be taught by Jaime Parks (Kittelson and Associates) and Jessica Roberts (ALTA Planning + Design). It is intended for professionals who are involved with developing and implementing bicycle, pedestrian plans and trail plans, and those who are responsible for community education and engagement around these modes of travel.

For more information, visit the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation.

World Symposium on Transport and Land Use Research

The inaugural meeting of the World Symposium on Transport and Land Use Research will be held in Whistler, British Columbia, July 28-30, 2011. The conference will bring together academics and practitioners at the intersection of economics, planning, and engineering in the fields of transport and land use.

In addition to presentations based on rigorously peer-reviewed papers, the conference program will include confirmed plenary presentations from:

• Ed Glaeser (Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Harvard University), Keynote Address
• Robert Cervero (Professor of City & Regional Planning, University of California, Berkeley), Featured Luncheon Speaker
• David Banister (Professor of Transport Studies, Oxford University), Featured Luncheon Speaker

Submission of Papers

Join this initiative by presenting original and interdisciplinary research papers on topics that address the interaction of transport and land use. Welcome domains include: engineering, planning, modeling, behavior, economics, geography, regional science, sociology, architecture and design, network science, and complex systems.

Papers will be categorized and ranked by peer reviewers. Theoretical, empirical, case-study, and policy-oriented contributions are welcome. All papers will be considered for publication in the Journal of Transportation and Land Use.

Papers must be submitted electronically by December 31, 2010 for consideration. See the WSTLUR paper submission Web page for detailed instructions.

Expansive Reactions in Cement-Based Materials workshop, July 27-29, 2011

The goal of this workshop is to stimulate discussions related to expansive behavior in cement‐based materials.

While much is understood about the outward manifestations of expansive reactions, still questions remain about why many of these reactions result in expansion and    damage to concrete materials. The format of the workshop will be five sessions where three relatively brief technical talks related to the theme will present new theories, explanations, observations and controversial findings to foster discussion among participants. Speakers are encouraged to keep their talks brief, yet engaging. At the end of the technical talks approximately 30‐45 minutes will be devoted to discussion. A poster session will allow participants to showcase latest research results and findings which will further enhance the interactive nature of this workshop.

Important Dates:

Early registration deadline: March 15, 2011

Registration deadline: June 15, 2011

For more information, and to register, visit the conference website at http://web.engr.oregonstate.edu/~idekerj/expcem

Council of University Transportation Centers National Summer Meeting

OTREC is pleased to host the annual summer meeting of the Council of University Transportation Centers at Portland State University. Over 100 representatives of university-based transportation research centers are expect to attend this 2-1/2 day conference to receive updates on national policy and to share and compare experiences. For more details, please visit the conference website.

OSU Seminar: Clearing the Air by Promoting Hybrids?

Oregon State University is pleased to welcome Dr. Antonio Bento, a professor of Applied Economics at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His talk is entitled, "Clearing the Air by Promoting Hybrids? The Unintended Consequences of Allowing Solo-Hybrid Drives in High Occupancy Lanes."

When: Friday, May 20, 2011 - 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Oregon State University, 200C Ballard Extension Hall
Who: Free and open to the public

Abstract:
This paper examines the overall welfare effects and distributional impacts of the Clean Air Stickers program in California. In an attempt to promote the penetration of hybrids in the vehicle fleet and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this program allowed solo drivers of 85,000 low-emission vehicles, predominately hybrid-electric vehicles, to access to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Using a regression discontinuity design, we estimate the effect of the Clean Air Stickers program on HOV lane congestion, mainline congestion, and hybrid vehicle registration. We show that across specifications, travel time in the HOV lane increased significantly, while mainline travel times remained steady. Furthermore, we find no evidence that this policy stimulated registration of hybrid vehicles, and as a consequence, greenhouse gas emissions may have actually increased. Finally, we find that regardless of the effect of the program on new hybrid registration, because congestion costs dominate potential GHG emissions savings, the policy fails to pass a simple benefit-cost test. Even under our most
optimistic scenario, the cost per ton of GHG emissions reduction, is substantially larger that the most costly available options to the regulator. Further, by promoting the penetration of the hybrid technology at the expense of increased travel time for carpoolers, this program was highly regressive. We estimate that it costs 9 dollars to transfer one dollar to hybrid owners.

IBPI Professional Development Course: Bike Boulevard Fundamentals

Bicycle boulevards are low-speed, low-volume bikeways that are becoming increasingly popular in communities seeking to enhance their bicycle network and boost ridership. This one-day course will cover the fundamentals of bicycle boulevard planning and design process through lecture, discussion, in-class exercises and a bicycle field tour. The course is intended for professionals who are planning, designing or advocating for bicycle and pedestrian networks at the community or regional level.

Instructor: Roger Geller, City of Portland

Registration: $295 plus $25 if you need to rent a bicycle for the tours. The fee covers morning coffee, snacks, lunch and course materials but not travel, lodging and other meals. Registration deadline is May 5, 2011. Also: save $90 when you register for both the "Trail Design" and "Bicycle Boulevard Fundamentals" courses together.

For more information, visit the course website or contact IBPI at ibpi@pdx.edu or 503-725-4024.

LiveMove Speaker Series Presents Jeff Mapes: Pedal Politics

LiveMove (UO Student Group) is proud to present a public lecture by Jeff Mapes, author of Pedaling Revolution, a seasoned political journalist and a long-time bike commuter. He will speak about the bike movement and its political power. Mapes will also announce the winner of LiveMove's Bike Rack Design Competition.

Where: Cozmic Pizza at The Strand (199 West 8th Avenue, Eugene)
When: Thursday, May 19th: Social at 5:30, lecture at 6:30

There will be opportunity to buy a signed copy of Pedaling Revolution, to view designs submitted for the Bike Rack Design Competition and to learn about bicycle transportation research conducted by UO students.

For more information, contact LiveMove speaker series coordinator, Cortney Mild.

IBPI Professional Development Course: Trail Design

This is a highly interactive course that includes a classroom overview, and a bicycle field tour of some of the biggest challenges and best trail solutions in Portland. The classroom overview will include discussions of trail widths, surfacing, road crossings, safety, user types, trail types, including rails with trails, and more using examples from the best trails around the country. The field tour will be along the banks of the Willamette River and include discussion of the development of the Eastbank Esplanade. Participants are encouraged to bring examples of challenges to be met in their communities, we’ll work as a group to examine issues, find precedents and sketch solutions. The course is intended for professionals who are planning, designing, or advocating for bicycle and pedestrian networks at the community or regional level.

Instructors: Steve Durrant and Mike Rose, ALTA Planning + Design

Registration: $295 plus $25 if you need to rent a bicycle for the tours. The fee covers morning coffee, snacks, lunch and course materials but not travel, lodging and other meals. Registration deadline is May 5, 2011. Also: save $90 when you register for both the "Trail Design" and "Bicycle Boulevard Fundamentals" courses together.

For more information, visit the course website or contact IBPI at ibpi@pdx.edu or 503-725-4024.

Driveway Design: Lessons from an NCHRP Project (Visiting Scholar Jim Gattis)

The archived webcast of this seminar is now available online - you must have Windows Media Player to view it. Please note, due to technical difficulties, the audio does not begin until about 2.5 minutes into the seminar.

OTREC is pleased to welcome visiting scholar Jim Gattis from the University of Arkansas on May 16th and 17th. Following a visit at Oregon State University on the 16th, Gattis will present a free seminar at Portland State University.

When: Tuesday, 5/17 at 3:00 p.m.
Where: Portland State University Engineering Building Room 315 ("ITS Lab")
What: Driveway Design: What We Learned from an NCHRP Project (see abstract below)
Who: James Gattis, Professor of Engineering at the University of Arkansas

The seminar is free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend in person, you can watch a live webcast (windows media player required).

For more information, please contact OTREC Program Manager, Jon Makler

Abtract
When roadway designers mention driveways, they are usually referring to the area of the driveway near its connection with the main roadway.  The design of these driveway connections may seem rather insignificant in the overall scheme of things.  However, past studies have reported that between 10 and 20% of all urban roadway collisions are related to driveways.  Along urban arterial roadways, research has shown that the frequency of driveways affects both the crash rates and traffic flow quality.  Clearly, the design of driveways can affect safety, mobility, and trip quality.

During the NCHRP 15-35 research project, the research team synthesized findings from previous studies and conducted new field research to provide a basis for the recently-published Guide for the Geometric Design of Driveways.  This presentation explains some of these findings that have a practical application for roadway design engineers.

Free Seminar at OSU: Visiting Scholar Jim Gattis on Driveway Design

OTREC is pleased to welcome visiting scholar Jim Gattis from the University of Arkansas on May 16th. Oregon State University and the OSU Student Chapter of ITE will host Dr. Gattis on campus for the day and a special, free seminar at 5pm in Kearney Hall.

When: Monday, 5/16 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Oregon State University, Kearney Hall, Room 305
What: Driveway Design: What We Learned from an NCHRP Project (see abstract below)
Who: James Gattis, Professor of Engineering at the University of Arkansas

The seminar is free and open to the public.

For more information, please contact OTREC Program Manager, Jon Makler

Abtract
When roadway designers mention driveways, they are usually referring to the area of the driveway near its connection with the main roadway.  The design of these driveway connections may seem rather insignificant in the overall scheme of things.  However, past studies have reported that between 10 and 20% of all urban roadway collisions are related to driveways.  Along urban arterial roadways, research has shown that the frequency of driveways affects both the crash rates and traffic flow quality.  Clearly, the design of driveways can affect safety, mobility, and trip quality.

During the NCHRP 15-35 research project, the research team synthesized findings from previous studies and conducted new field research to provide a basis for the recently-published Guide for the Geometric Design of Driveways.  This presentation explains some of these findings that have a practical application for roadway design engineers.

Sustainable City Year: Oregon’s Communities as Classrooms (Free Seminar at PSU)

The University of Oregon's Sustainable City Year program has brought the focus of numerous courses, with hundreds of associated faculty and students, to Gresham in 2009-10 and Salem in 2010-11. Nico Larco, the program's Co-Director, will visit Portland State University on Friday, May 13th, to share lessons, experiences, and anecdotes from the past two years in a free seminar.

When: Sustainable City Year - Oregon's Communities as Classrooms
When: Friday, May 13, 2011
Where: PSU Urban Center Room 204 (SW 6th and Mill) and on the web
Who: The seminar is free and open to the public

Visiting Scholar Robert Schneider: Free Seminar at PSU

OTREC is pleased to welcome visiting scholar Robert Schneider, a PhD Candidate from UC Berkeley. Schneider will visit Portland on May 6th and 7th to meet with local planners and present a seminar at Portland State University (see seminar abstract below).

What: "How do people choose a travel mode? Factors associated with routine walking and bicycling"
When: Friday, May 6, 2011, noon to 1:00 p.m.
Where: PSU Urban Center Room 204 (SW 6th and Mill) and on the web
Who: The seminar is free and open to the public

Abstract:

Walking and bicycling are being promoted as transportation options that can increase the livability and sustainability of communities, but the automobile remains the dominant mode of transportation in all United States metropolitan regions. In order to change travel behavior, researchers and practitioners need a greater understanding of the mode choice decision process, especially for walking and bicycling.

This presentation will summarize dissertation research on factors associated with walking and bicycling for routine travel purposes, such as shopping. More than 1,000 retail pharmacy store customers were surveyed in 20 San Francisco Bay Area shopping districts in fall 2009, and 26 follow-up interviews were conducted in spring and summer 2010. Mixed logit models showed that walking was associated with shorter travel distances, higher population densities, more street tree canopy coverage, and greater enjoyment of walking. Bicycling was associated with shorter travel distances, more bicycle facilities, more bicycle parking, and greater enjoyment of bicycling. Respondents were more likely to drive when they perceived a high risk of crime, but automobile use was discouraged by higher employment densities, smaller parking lots, and metered on-street parking. Interviews suggested a five-step theory of how people choose travel modes. Walking and bicycling could be promoted within each step: awareness and availability (through individual/social marketing programs), basic safety and security (through pedestrian and bicycle facility improvements and education and enforcement efforts), convenience (through higher-density, mixed land uses and limited automobile parking), enjoyment (through street trees and supportive culture), and habit (through roadway and parking pricing).

From Good to Great: Sustaining UO’s Leadership as a Bike Friendly University

LiveMove, the OTREC student group at the University of Oregon, is excited to host Andy Clarke (President, Leage of American Bicyclists) as part of their 2010-11 Speaker Series on May 5 in Eugene. Clarke is in town to present UO with the Silver-Level Bike Friendly University award, an honor that places UO in the top 20 bicycle friendly universities in the nation. Clarke's lecture, "From Good to Great: Sustaining UO's Leadership as a Bike-Friendly University" will cover what UO has already accomplished, what needs improvement and the power of students and universities to promote bicycling in cities.

When: Thursday, May 5th. Social Hour at 5:30, Lecture at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Lawrence 206, University of Oregon
Who: Free and Open to the Public

In addition to the lecture, Clarke's visit will include a bike tour of Eugene (Noon to 1:00 p.m.), a meeting with students, faculty and administrators (1:30 - 2:30 p.m.), and the award ceremony itself (3:15 - 4:00 p.m.), which will feature speeches by Mr. Clarke and UO President Lariviere.

For more information please contact LiveMove Speaker Series Coordinator, Cortney Mild.

The Truth, Well Told: Using Information to Change the World

Gabe Klein Shares Lessons from Launching Capital Bikeshare in Free Seminar at PSU

Transportation expert Gabe Klein, former Director of the District Department of Transportation (Washington, DC), Co-Founder of On-the-Fly, and former Regional VP of ZipCar, will share lessons learned from the launch of Capital Bikeshare in Washington, D.C. He will be joined by Alison Cohen (Alta Bike Share).

When: Friday, April 8, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.

Where: Portland State University, Intelligent Transportation Systems Laboratory (Room 315 of the Engineering Building, 1930 SW Fourth Ave)

Who: The event is open to the public. The room holds approximately 50 on a first-come-first-served basis.

Webcast: A live webcast will be available. Windows Media Player required. The webcast will also be archived and available later via otrec.us

The archived video file is now available. Note: this is a raw file; the seminar starts at approximately 36 minutes into the file. Click here to view.

Mr. Klein is visiting Oregon as part of the UO Sustainable Cities Initiative's Expert in Residence program and OTREC's Visiting Scholars Program. He is spending Wednesday in Eugene, meeting with faculty, students and local partners, touring Eugene by bike and BRT, and giving a a public lecture as part of the LiveMove Speaker Series (5:30 p.m., Eugene Electric Station). On Thursday, is he visiting Salem where UO's Sustainable City Year is focusing its efforts in 2010-11. In Portland on Friday, Mr. Klein is meeting with students in the morning and then presenting a public lecture as part of Portland State University's weekly transportation seminar series (Noon, PSU Urban Center room 204 and on the web).

For more information about Gabe Klein's visit to Oregon, please contact OTREC Communications Director, Justin Carinci.

2010-11 Region X Student Conference

The 8th Annual Region X Student Conference will be held on Friday, February 18th at Oregon State University. The OSU student chapter of ITE is the host organization this year and looks forward to welcoming students from around Oregon as well as Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Montana. Please visit the conference website for details.

TRB Debrief: Operations and ITS

What: An open meeting to share observations and lessons learned at the 2011 TRB Annual Meeting related to Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Transportation System Management and Operations (TSMO). Hear from faculty, students and local professionals who attended TRB and ITS or TSMO sessions in particular. What are the latest developments? What new research was shared? What are ways that the field might be changing in the year ahead?

Where: The debrief will be held in the ITS Lab at Portland State University. Room 315 of the Engineering Building at 1930 SW 4th Avenue, Portland, OR 97201

When: Wednesday, February 9, 2011 from 1-3pm

Who: All are welcome. The debrief is being held as part of the regular monthly meeting of TransPort, the committee that works to coordinate ITS and TSMO investments in the Portland region. The meeting is being held at Portland State University to encourage faculty and students, who attend TRB in large numbers, to attend and participate as well.

For more information, please contact Deena Platman (Metro) or Jon Makler (OTREC)

OTREC at TRB: Thursday

Faculty and students affiliated with OTREC's four universities are involved in the following TRB sessions on Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011

• 8 - 9:45 a.m.
  • Session 759: Travelers' Attitudes and Perceptions featuring Kelly Clifton (PSU) - Hilton
• 10:15 a.m. - noon
  • Session 768: Integrated Urban Modeling: Methodological Advances and Assessment featuring John Gliebe and Hongwei Dong - Hilton

OTREC at TRB: Wednesday

Faculty and students affiliated with OTREC's four universities are involved in the following TRB sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

• 8 - 9:45 a.m.
  • Session 643: Current Research in Intermodal Freight Operations featuring Miguel Figliozzi, Nikkii Wheeler and Shreemoyee Sarkar (PSU) - Shoreham
  • Session 652: Emerging Learning Concepts and Formats in a Traditional Undergraduate Classroom Education Setting featuring David Hurwitz (OSU) - Hilton
  • Session 656: Off the Beaten Path: Low-Volume Roads and Ecology featuring David Sillars and Nicholas Tymvios (OSU) - Hilton
• 8 a.m. - noon
  • Committee ANF20: Bicycle Transportation Committee, Jennifer Dill (PSU), Presiding Officer - Marriott
• 2:30 - 4 p.m.
  • Session 724: Economic Impacts of Transportation featuring Tony Rufolo (PSU) - Hilton
• 2:30 - 5 p.m.
  • Session 738: Modeling Theories and Practices in Freight Planning and Logistics featuring Miguel Figliozzi (PSU) - Shoreham
• 4:30 - 6 p.m.
  • Session 750: Decision on Whether and Where to Bycle: Role of Facilities and Social Environment featuring Jennifer Dill, John Gliebe and Joseph Broach (PSU)
• 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
  • Committee ANB25(6): Crash Modification Factors Subcommittee, Karen Dixon (OSU), Presiding Officer

Region X 2011 TRB Reception

OTREC at TRB: Tuesday

Faculty and students affiliated with OTREC's four universities are involved in the following TRB sessions on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2011. In addition, OTREC is a co-host of the Region X Reception on Tuesday evening.

• 8  - 9:45 a.m.
  • Session 462: What is the State of the Art on Vehicle Miles Traveled Fees? Featuring Tony Rufolo (PSU) - Hilton
  • Committee ANB20: Safety Data, Analysis and Evaluation Committee, Christopher Monsere (PSU), Presiding Officer - Marriott
  • Committee ANF20: Bicycle Paper and Program Subcommittee, Jennifer Dill (PSU), Presiding Officer - Marriott
• 9:30 a.m. - noon
  • Session 476: Advances in Climate Change Research featuring John MacArthur, Lindsay Walker, Miguel Figliozzi and Ashley Haire (PSU) - Hilton
  • Session 477: Advances in Transportation Energy Research featuring Miguel Figliozzi, Wei Feng and Jesse Boudart (PSU) - Hilton
  • Session 479: Current Environmental Issues in Transportation featuring Miguel Figliozzi, Kelly Clifton, Ashley Haire, Linda George, Christopher Monsere, Alex Bigazzi, Adam Moore and Christina Kendrick (PSU) - Hilton
• 10:15 a.m. - noon
  • Session 510: Transportation Systems for Livable Communities: Research Perspectives featuring Jennifer Dill (PSU)
• 1:30 - 3:15 p.m.
  • Session 538: Influencing Public Transit Ridership (e-session) featuring John Gliebe, James Strathman and Asa Bergman (PSU) - Hilton
  • Session 539: Network Models for Transit, Freight and Logistics featuring MIguel Figliozzi (PSU) - Hilton
• 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.
  • Session 546: Characterization of Moisture Susceptibility in Hot and Warm Asphalt Mixtures featuring Todd Scholz (OSU) - Marriott
• 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.
  • Session 567: Innovative Bicycle Infrastructure: Is It Working? Featuring Christopher Monsere, Jennifer Dill and Nathan McNeil (PSU) - Marriott
• 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
  • Session 596: Advances in Traffic Control Devices featuring David Hurwitz, Sahar Nabee and Halton Tuss (OSU) - Marriott
  • Session 603: Research in Traffic Flow Theory and Characteristics, Part 1, featuring Christopher Monsere and Huan Li (PSU) - Marriott
  • Session 604: School Transportation Research featuring Yizhao Yang and Steve Abbott (UO); Lynn Weigand (PSU) - Marriott

OTREC at TRB: Monday

Faculty and students affiliated with OTREC's four universities are involved in the following TRB sessions on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011:

• 8 - 9:45 a.m.
  • Session 200: Advancing Density Measurement Protocols for Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavements and Longitudinal Joints featuring Todd Scholz (OSU) - Marriott
  • Session 211: Value of Pavement Preservation featuring Todd Scholz (OSU) - Marriott
  • Session 224: Ecology of Scale: Road Ecology Research and Practice featuring Catherine de Rivera and Sara Zielin (PSU); Gail Achterman, Jimmy Kagan and Lisa Gaines (OSU/INR) - Hilton
  • Session 233: Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Applications, Part 1, featuring Kate Hunter-Zaworski and Joseph Zaworski (OSU) - Hilton
• 9:30 a.m. - noon
  • Session 254: SHRP 2 Capacity -- Results and Work in Progress featuring Gail Achterman (OSU) and Jimmy Kagan (INR) - Hilton
• 1:30 - 3:15 p.m.
  • ABJ36 Committee: Archived Data User Service Joint Subcommittee, Kristin Tufte (PSU), Presiding Officer - Hilton
• 2:30 - 5 p.m.
  • Session326: Advances in Quantification of Highway Safety Performance featuring Fei Xie and Karen Dixon (OSU); Kristie Gladhill and Chrisopher Monsere (PSU) - Marriott
  • Session 336: Advances in Metropolitan Transportation Planning: Multidisciplinary Perspectives featuring John MacArthur, Miguel Figliozzi, Ashley Haire and Lindsay Walker (PSU) - Hilton
  • Session 338: Case Studies in Transit Management and Performance featuring Miguel Figliozzi, Wei Feng and Kristina Hostetler (PSU) -  Hilton
  • Session 345: Public Involvement in Transportation featuring Marc Schlossberg, Cody Evers, Ken Kato, Dana Maher and Christo Brehm (UO) - Hilton
• 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.
  • Session 370: Evaluating Programs and Tools to Improve Transportation Access for Seniors and People with Disabilities featuring Kate Hunter-Zaworski (OSU) - Hilton
• 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
  • Session 383: Bicycle Facilities: Design, Safety, Evaluation featuring David Alan Moskovitz, Nikki Wheeler, Christine Kendrick, Adam Moore, Ashley Haire, Alex Bigazzi, Miguel Figliozzi, Christopher Monsere and Linda George (PSU) - Marriott
  • Session 390: Intelligent Transportation Systems Development and Applications featuring David Porter, David Kim, Mario Magana, Panupat Poocharoen and Carlos Gutierrez Arriaga (OSU) - Marriott
  • Session 405: Using a Performance-Based Approach to Truck Operations and Regulation featuring Miguel Figliozzi and Nikki Wheeler (PSU) - Shoreham
  • Session 411: Bicycle Planning and Policy featuring Nathan McNeil, Jennifer Dill and Miguel Figliozzi (PSU) - Hilton

OTREC at TRB: Sunday

Faculty and students affiliated with OTREC's four universities are involved in the following TRB workshops on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011:

114. Accelerated Bridge Construction - Research, Design and Practice

This workshop introduces practitioners to several strategies for increasing construction speed of new bridges or rehabilitating or replacing older bridges. Techniques presented include full-depth precast bridge deck panels, all precast bridge construction, and self-propelled mobile transports for setting completed bridges into position. In addition to the fundamentals of accelerated construction techniques, several case studies will be presented.

• Featuring Toni Doolen, OSU
• 9 a.m. to noon at the Shoreham
• Doolen is scheduled to present "Multi-State Accelerated Bridge Construction Decision Tool and Economic Modeling Study" at 10:40am 

143. Educating Transportation Engineers

This workshop examines best practices and innovations in traffic signal education and training and identifies what students, engineers, and technicians need to know and understand about traffic signal systems, the available resources to improve skills and competencies in practice, and how the Traffic Signal Systems Committee can encourage development of educational materials, curriculum, tools, and activities to improve education and training in traffic signal systems.

• Featuring David Hurwitz (OSU) and Ashley Haire (PSU)
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Marriott
• Hurwitz is part of a group presenting "The National Transportation Curriculum Project"
• Haire is part of a team presenting "Transportation Education Development Pilot Program: The Region X Consortium Distance Education Curriculum Development Project"

185. Qualitative Research Methods in Transportation: New Approach to New Challenges

This workshop is designed to address the what, why, and how of qualitative research (QR). QR methods have the ability to answer questions that quantitative research cannot, illuminating the reasons behind observed behavior, which is increasingly important as we strive to promote behavioral change. Participants will learn when to use QR, which methods are appropriate for which research questions, and how qualitative and quantitative methods can reinforce each other.

• Featuring Kelly Clifton (PSU)
• 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the Hilton
• Clifton is presenting "Principles of Qualitative Research"

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting - 2011

The Transportation Research Board will hold its 90th Annual Meeting January 23-27, 2011 in Washington, DC. Every year this conference attracts approximately 10,000 transportation professionals from academia, government, consulting and other sectors from around the world. OTREC is consistently well-represented on the agenda with dozens of presentations given by affiliated faculty and students, some of who are also members of TRBs many standing committees.

If you will be attending this year's annual meetings, look for presentations by OTREC-affiliated faculty and students on each day of the conference:

• Sunday
• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday

If you are NOT able to attend TRB, OTREC will host some debriefing meetings in the weeks following the conference.

• Operations and ITS: Wednesday, February 9th as part of the monthly TransPort Committee meeting. Contact Deena Platman (Metro) for more information
• Livable Communities: Date, time and location TBA. Livability is the "Spotlight" topic at this year's conference.

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