For DOTs looking to create a more connected and multimodal transportation network, mobility hubs are an emerging piece of infrastructure that can make changing modes and traveling across a region more convenient and environmentally friendly. But not everyone has the same ability to access and use these hubs. State DOTs looking to build mobility hubs can incorporate the needs, ideas, and feedback of disadvantaged groups to better plan, design, and build these spaces for everyone who might use them.
Research
Want to respond to crashes quicker? AI could help
State transportation agencies are cautiously dipping their toes into the waters of “artificial intelligence” and “machine learning” to find applications in the transportation field. There are many potential uses, according to a new report, including opportunities to track assets like crosswalks, and to clear traffic incidents faster, which could lessen the need for major capacity investments. Agencies have also identified some lessons and pitfalls of the technology as they pilot new tools.
Highway costs outweigh benefits, especially when land value is considered
Highway expansion projects rarely deliver the time-saving benefits that policymakers promise. Adding more lanes generally leads to increased demand, more congestion, and higher emissions. A new study finds that economically, these projects usually fall short by about 17% of their projected benefits, and costs are significantly higher when land use is factored into the equation. Due to the historical inefficiencies and limited effectiveness of highway projects in achieving their economic goals, prioritizing transit could lead to greater sustainability and efficiency. While transit projects also can be costly, they often provide more sustainable and long-term travel solutions when compared to highways.
Dedicated bus lanes improve safety
The U.S. DOT is funding bus projects across the country that promise many of the same benefits as rail, but at lower cost. With dedicated lanes and stations that are more like train stops than a typical American bus stop, bus rapid transit (BRT) aims to move large numbers of people through congested areas faster than rush hour traffic. This sometimes comes with tradeoffs, like the loss of regular traffic lanes, but it can also offer unanticipated safety benefits, like curbing excessive traffic speeds, according to new research.
Reducing lanes for cars doesn’t slow 911 response
Road diets, for example, converting 4 lanes into 3, provide many benefits including traffic calming and improved safety for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Agencies implementing road diets have seen a 29% average reduction in crashes. However, they often face pushback when planning these conversions, especially from those concerned about potential delays for emergency response. New research suggests these conversions don’t delay emergency response vehicles, meaning they could offer a more balanced approach to safety.
Many residents would prefer to pay for parking separately from rent
Parking reform advocates, backed by urban policy researchers, have long argued for “unbundling” the cost of parking from residential leases, rather than including it in the cost of rent. This is usually so that households with fewer cars don’t get stuck paying for parking they don’t need. According to new research, however, the policy is also popular among those with more cars than average, who would often happily pay for the extra spaces they need.
Telecommuting most likely increases travel
We’ve written before about the impact of telecommuting on travel demand. Contrary to some common assumptions, it often results in longer non-work trips or broader changes in travel behavior. As transportation agencies consider telecommuting as a viable strategy to cut travel—especially since the pandemic—a new comprehensive review presents mixed results.
A transportation paradigm shift that we need is moving too slowly
Our transportation system in the U.S. is built and maintained largely on basic principles that are now a century in the making. The first principle: cities and metropolitan areas will continue growing outward. Second, almost everybody will drive. And third, by adding road capacity, we can prevent the system from breaking down. As a result, commute times have risen by more than 20% over the last 50 years and only the pandemic has offered any relief from traffic congestion. A new study now offers a fresh perspective on the current state of practice and some critical challenges to moving toward accessibility as an industry.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy to reduce car usage
Reducing the amount we drive is critical for cutting emissions while also improving health, safety, and transportation system performance. This effort requires both changes in the built environment and individual travel behaviors. The strategies for doing so typically fall into two categories: soft strategies, which focus on incentives and changing attitudes, and hard strategies, which involve infrastructure improvements and new regulations.
Black households pay more per vehicle regardless of income
People of color already face disproportionate health risks, pedestrian deaths, and discrimination directly related to our car-dependent infrastructure. A new study finds the cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle is also grossly inequitable.