Most traffic models and transportation plans assume people’s travel behavior is largely predictable and unchanging. Usually, this means more and more driving year after year, and investments aimed at meeting that rising demand. But the most recent spike in gas prices shows just how quickly people adapt their behavior to even small price cues.
Meetings
States DOTs can lead in cutting emissions. Our latest report explains how.
More states are now tracking harmful carbon emissions, setting ambitious goals to reduce those emissions, and exploring opportunities to meet those goals, even as the federal government walks back its commitment to public health and well-being. With transportation accounting for around 30% of emissions, more than any other sector, state DOTs play a key role. Several states—California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington—have set an early example of what’s possible.
Webinar: Sidewalk Data For Detailed First- and Last-Mile Access Analysis
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Walking routes to and from bus stops and transit stations are critical for riders, but sidewalk data can be hard to come by. Washington State DOT is wrapping up a two-year effort to build a unified pedestrian infrastructure dataset that is compatible with OpenStreetMap and geared toward accessibility-forward planning.
Webinar: State Support for Intercity Buses
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
The COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the business environment have led to a decline in intercity bus service in recent years. But with ridership projected to rebound and soon surpass pre-pandemic levels, state DOTs can play a role in expanding intercity bus service, a more environmentally friendly mode of transportation than solo vehicle travel that can provide enhanced mobility and connection between rural and urban areas.
Expanding Transportation’s Role in the Clean Energy Transition
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Join us for this webinar with The Ray – a leading non-profit organization advancing net zero infrastructure—and the Minnesota DOT to learn how DOT’s are being asked to support expanded electricity transmission to incorporate renewable resources, serve new loads (especially for EV charging) and improve grid reliability.
Measuring Accessibility: National Evaluation, Local Application
Thursday October 5, 2023
Continuing a multi-part series, SSTI talks with researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Accessibility Observatory about their collaborative effort to document access to opportunity at a national scale.
Measuring Accessibility: Expanding the Practice
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
As agencies continue to integrate accessibility analysis into policy and planning, new research can guide the expansion of current and best practices. In this session we will talk with Louis Merlin from Florida Atlantic University and Dana Rowangould from the University of Vermont about their research into pedestrian and other accessibility metrics, and the practitioners who use them.
Measuring Accessibility: Advances in Project Evaluation
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
In the second of a multi-part series, SSTI talks with MnDOT and Caltrans about addressing equity with accessibility metrics, their latest tool advancements, and takeaways from their recent interactive TRB workshop.
Measuring Accessibility: Planning for Success
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
In the first of a multi-part series, SSTI will be talking with several organizations about how they implement accessibility in planning to improve access to opportunities in the long term.
Advancing Complete Streets Among State DOTs
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Implementing Complete Streets policies requires major shifts in framework and thinking compared to how most roads are now designed. In collaboration with Smart Growth America, we invite you to join us November 17 to discuss Advancing Complete Streets Among State DOTs.