OTREC Newsletter Fall 2012

RESEARCH IMPACT FOCUS: Bike research leading to smarter regional investments
 When policymakers look to meet cycling goals by investing in new bicycle routes, they have little research to help them determine whether cyclists will actually use them. As a result, bicycle facilities aren’t considered equally with motor vehicle infrastructure.

That’s changing, thanks in part to OTREC research. An OTREC-funded study, the first to gather large-scale data that reveal cyclists’ actual route preference, is being published in a scientific journal (Transportation Research Part A). The findings have already been incorporated into the regional travel demand model used to make transportation investment decisions across the Portland region. Read more here and read Director Jennifer Dill's comments on her motivation behind the research here.
 
Fourth Oregon Transportation Summit a success
OTREC hosted its most successful Oregon Transportation Summit to date Sept. 10, selling out the 300-plus seats at Portland State University's Smith Memorial Student Union ballroom. The summit, which pairs academics with transportation practitioners, also featured a keynote from Eran Ben-Joseph of MIT, a student poster exhibit, workshops, and a plenary session with Peter Plumeau of RSG Inc. and Brenda Wilson of Lane Council of Governments. Click here for a photo set.
 
OTREC has selected its first roster of projects under the National Institute for Transportation and Communities, or NITC, program. The 19 projects, totaling $1.97 million, reflect the NITC theme of safe, healthy and sustainable transportation to foster livable communities. The projects have national implications and reflect priority areas including public health, equity and transit. Read more...
 
Green Lane Project holds promise of more protected bikeways
A project to create more miles of protected bike lanes in American cities turned to OTREC for the project’s research component. The Green Lane Project, a project of the Bikes Belong Foundation, chose six cities to test new designs and approaches to creating comfortable, separated bike routes such as cycle tracks. The project helps cities share experiences and collaborate with federal, state and local agencies. Read more...
 
Portland's Electric Avenue offers lessons for wider electric vehicle use
Widespread adoption of electric vehicles won’t happen without convenient charging points. But who should provide charging stations? Where should they be? And how should they be set up? Those are a few of the questions addressed in an OTREC report on the unique charging-station hub known as Electric Avenue.. Read more...
 
Report: Driving less won't hurt the economy
With various governments encouraging people to drive less, economists have wondered if such goals can have the side effect of harming the economy. In most cases, the answer is no, OTREC researcher B. Starr McMullen concluded in a research report. In general, growth leads to more driving, not the other way around, McMullen said, particularly for the metropolitan areas likely to pursue driving-reduction policies. Read more...
 
Modeling series gives tools for better policy, understanding
As transportation models increasingly inform policy decisions, OTREC is pleased to offer a free educational series designed to help decision makers, transportation officials and others understand these important tools. The series was organized with OTREC’s Oregon Modeling Collaborative and presented during the weekly transportation seminars at Portland State University. Read more...
 
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