In this study, Rand Corporation investigated the possible implications of autonomous vehicle technology on our roads. There are many policy and technological changes that will be necessary as these vehicles become more prevelant. This report is intended as a guide for state and federal policymakers on the many issues that this technology raises.
Economic Impact
A Resident’s Guide for Creating Safer Communities for Walking and Biking (FHWA, 2015)
This new guide from FHWA will assist residents, parents, community association members, and other concerned citizens who want to make their communities safer for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The Innovative DOT: A Handbook of Policy and Practice (SSTI & SGA, 2015)
SSTI and Smart Growth America continue working with state departments of transportation and tracking innovative strategies for meeting 21st century transportation needs. The 2015 edition of The Innovative DOT builds upon its predecessor with updated content and fresh new ideas from a growing number of states.
Accessibility in Cities: Transport and Urban Form (Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, 2014)
This paper focuses on one central aspect of urban development: transport and urban form and how the two shape the provision of access to people, goods and services, and information in cities. The more efficient this access, the greater the economic benefits through economies of scale, agglomeration effects and networking advantages.
Public Bikesharing in North America During a Period of Rapid Expansion: Understanding Business Models, Industry Trends, and User Impacts (Mineta Transportation Institute, 2014)
This study evaluates public bikesharing in North America, reviewing the change in travel behavior exhibited by members of different programs in the context of their business models and operational environment. This research, featuers interviews with IT-based bikesharing organizations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as both annual members and casual users of the bikesharing systems.
Access Across America: Transit 2014
Researchers at the University of Minnesota released a new report ranking major metropolitan areas in terms of their accessibility to jobs by transit. The report complements the group’s 2013 release, which measured job accessibility by automobile, and builds upon their ongoing efforts to develop tools for assessing transportation performance in terms other than mobility and congestion. Rankings were determined by a weighted average of accessibility, giving a higher weight to closer jobs. The calculations include all components of a transit journey, including “last mile” access and egress walking segments and transfers.
Making Effective Fixed-Guideway Transit Investments: Indicators of Success (Transportation Research Board, 2014)
Fixed-guideway transit projects, such as urban rail and bus rapid transit (BRT) lines, are among the largest infrastructure investments that cities and metropolitan areas make. This research report includes a handbook and links to a spreadsheet tool to assist in predicting the likelihood of project success based on the conditions in a potential transit corridor and the metropolitan area. For this research, success measures were defined based on project ridership and the change in transit system usage. A set of indicators was identified that are strongly related to these measures based on an intensive data collection and statistical analysis process.
Performance Measures for Nonmotorized Transportation (SSTI, 2014)
At the May 2013 SSTI Community of Practice, participants requested guidance on performance measures for biking and walking projects. After surveying state DOTs, city and MPO staff, national organizations, and the research literature, this draft report outlines strategies used to assess the success of state and local projects.
Making Effective Fixed-Guideway Transit Investments: Indicators of Success (TRB, 2014)
With bus rapid transit and light rail lines among the most expensiveinfrastructure projects undertaken by cities, funding is not taken lightly by local officials. The Transit Cooperative Research Program undertook a study to identify conditions and characteristics typically associated with successful fixed-guideway transit system investments and provide guidance on evaluating proposed investments based on these conditions and characteristics.
Lessons from the Green Lanes: Evaluating Protected Bike Lanes in the U.S. (National Institute for Transportation and Communities, 2014)
This report presents finding from research evaluating U.S. protected bicycle lanes (cycle tracks) in terms of their use, perception, benefits, and impacts. It finds that separated bike lanes both encourage new cyclists to ride and make motorists feel that cyclists were safer and more predictable.