By Michael Brenneis The town of Hillsboro, Virginia, is celebrating the reopening of its main street—Virginia State Route 9—after extensive reconstruction. The installation of sidewalks, crossings, parking, and traffic circles at either end of town …
Outcomes
Traffic studies drive housing development to the fringe
By Chris McCahill Traffic impact assessments (TIAs) are commonly used by local governments to ensure that new developments do not cause excessive delay on nearby roads. There is growing cause for concern, however, that these tools have …
Perception and psychology may explain why drivers speed when volume is low
By Michael Brenneis Changed travel behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced congestion and vehicle miles traveled (VMT), even while traffic deaths continue to rise. Evidence shows that open roads, speeding, and other dangerous driving behaviors …
A marketing trick to support safe speeds
Using the “left digit effect,” a group of researchers slowed drivers’ speeds with a simple change on speed limit signs.
Buffalo has reshaped mixed-use development by eliminating parking requirements
After eliminating its minimum parking requirements in 2017, the city of Buffalo, New York, has seen a notable drop in the growth of new parking, driven mostly by changes in mixed-use developments.
Road pricing reduces induced demand
A new study confirms that adding capacity to roads generates an exactly proportional increase in vehicle travel. Road pricing curbs this effect.
Bundling transportation projects can squeeze out smaller firms
Bundling projects can lead to less competition and can squeeze out smaller minority- and women-owned businesses in favor of larger national and international firms.
Using a transit route diversity index to measure spatial equity
A recent study by researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University uses a route diversity index to measure resilience and accessibility on a fine scale for planned Mass Transit Railway expansions.
Inequitable street space for transit and cyclists common, even in urbanized areas
A new study shows that transit riders and cyclists have significantly lower surface area allocated to them for exclusive use compared to demand.
Seattle’s reduced parking minimums cut 18,000 stalls and saved over $500 million
Based on costs of providing parking in Seattle, the authors estimate the reduction in parking capacity saved some $537 million.