Browsing by Subject "Transportation"

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A method for estimating the inputs necessary to construct a microsimulation model using only publicly available data
(2016-12) Van Hout, Alexander Joseph; Machemehl, Randy B.
Standard traffic engineering methodologies rely heavily on traffic data collected in the field for the design and planning of roadways and intersections. This data can be used to build microsimulation models, which are versatile and realistic tools for analyzing traffic scenarios. Sometimes, however, time and budget do not allow for the collection of high quality data in the field, but answers to questions about traffic scenarios are still needed. This thesis provides a review of data that is typically available to the public online as well as existing traffic engineering methodologies that will be useful in manipulating that data. It presents an empirically derived method for estimating left turn, thru, and right turn counts at intersections based on tube counts on surrounding roadways and the characteristics of the intersection. It then presents an exploration of the distribution of directionality of traffic throughout the day. Finally, it presents a method for converting tube counts on an approach to an intersection to equivalent lane volumes so that signal timings can be estimated.
A novel method of inter- and intra-building package transport created within a startup ecosystem
(2022-05) Spitler, David Allan; Cullinan, Michael
Recently, many companies have been suffering from supply chain delays and labor shortages. The effects of inefficiencies in any shipping system quickly propagate and are felt at the consumer end. As a result, affected companies have been eagerly looking to invest in automated solutions that reduce idle package time and accordingly increase production and shipping rates. Currently, it’s commonplace in many industries to move packages by loading a vehicle full of packages, driving to another area of the building or a nearby building, and unloading these packages in this new area. This is an exceptionally slow and labor-intensive method that is ripe for innovative solutions. Tubular Network is a startup based in Austin, Texas providing a novel solution. They are developing a robust, low-cost, automated system to allow for quick and modular package movement within and between buildings. This report will focus on the work done to build a business case, quickly iterate design concepts, and validate prototypes and manufacturing methods while developing this system. This work ultimately culminates in the first full-scale prototype that will serve as a demonstration platform for potential customers.
A review of pedestrian, cyclist, and micromobility user safety in the Austin West Campus neighborhood
(2022-05-06) Tsai, Wesley; Karner, Alex
The safety of users of alternative modes of transportation is incredibly important for usage and accessibility to local services, public transit, resources, and amenities. As the City of Austin continues to grow, and the West Campus neighborhood continues to densify, it is important for the city to consider the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and users of micromobility options (i.e., dockless electric scooters) and other alternative modes of transport. Safe roadway networks and adequate alternative transportation infrastructure, such as bike lanes and well-maintained sidewalks, are especially relevant for individuals with mobility related disabilities. How safe and protected from vehicular traffic individuals feel impacts how they get around. Occurrences of traffic incidents involving vehicles and pedestrians/cyclists/e-scooter users can deter people from utilizing these more climate and environmentally friendly transportation options. As the West Campus neighborhood generally consists of students who do not use personal vehicles to travel to the UT Austin campus, it is important for the City of Austin to consider the safety of people not using motorized vehicles. This professional report will focus on pedestrian, bicyclist, and micromobility user safety in the West Campus neighborhood in Austin, TX. Specifically, it will analyze traffic incidents involving these modes from 2012 through 2021, and what the City of Austin has implemented to improve safety for users of non-motorized forms of transportation. With the recent amendments and implementation of the University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) and other development density bonuses that have allowed for taller residential towers and greater population density, it is even more important to consider the safety of pedestrians and users of alternative modes of transportation, such as bicycles, e-scooters, and public transit (Austin, TX L.D.C. Ordinance No. 040902-58, 2004). The greater number of students and other residents in West Campus will impact crash rates. The City of Austin needs to account for this potential population growth and consider street infrastructure improvements, especially in areas with greater crash rates. With the city’s Vision Zero initiative, and the future implementation of Project Connect, pedestrian, cyclist, and e-scooter safety should receive greater attention and consideration.
Alternatives to the motor fuel tax for financing Texas transportation
(2009-05) Franco, Patricia; Oden, Michael
Our nation is faced with a shortfall in funding desired transportation improvement programs. Texas is one of many states currently at crisis level as it is faced with an estimated annual funding shortfall of about $7 billion dollars between projected needs and transportation fund availability. This is a result of increased vehicle miles traveled and significant population growth that has outpaced the state’s transportation fund availability. Not only is the Texas transportation system declining in quality, but it is rapidly falling behind in the quantity needed to maintain current quality of life. As the Texas Mobility Fund balance approaches zero, the state needs to look toward non-traditional financing mechanisms to address its revenue shortfall. This report examines the problems associated with increased transportation demands in Texas and financing the expansion and maintenance of the state’s transportation system.
Application of clustering algorithms for online ridesharing and infrastructure placement in transportation networks
(2020-12-03) Anderson, Duncan C; Boyles, Stephen David, 1982-; Hasenbein, John J.
Transportation network companies (TNCs), often called “ridesharing” companies, operating today face a number of challenges in implementing ridesharing in their networks. The most substantial of these is efficiently identifying high quality ridesharing opportunities in an online operating environment. Optimal ridesharing, also known as the multiple vehicle pickup and delivery problem, is NP-hard and must be solved approximately using heuristics in an operating environment where riders almost never place reservations. The quantity and diversity of origin and destination locations within an urban environment also create challenges for quickly evaluating possible rideshares. Implementing pick-up and drop-off (PUDO) locations within the network can simplify ridesharing heuristics, allowing more accuracy in online ridesharing, but often it is unclear where PUDOs should be placed. This research proposes the use of clustering algorithms to abstract transportation networks as a solution to both problems. A ridesharing algorithm is proposed that uses a cluster adjacency index to quickly identify efficient ridesharing opportunities. The effectiveness of the ridesharing algorithm is examined using both K-means clustering, agnostic of network structure or congestion, and asynchronous fluid communities, a network clustering method that supports congestion weighting. The efficacy of the ridesharing algorithm is also assessed against different quantities of clusters and fleet sizes in the network. Node clustering in the urban core is used to identify well connected areas of the network that can be served by a single PUDO. PUDO placement methods within the cluster that are both conscious and agnostic of congestion and network structure are examined. This research concludes that properly calibrated network clustering methods with consideration of congestion are effective network abstractions that can easily be implemented in related research. The impact of congestion both in PUDO placement and in identifying communities served by a PUDO is not conclusively determined.
An assessment of operations and maintenance costs in public-private partnerships
(2014-08) Martinez, Sergio Eduardo; Walton, C. Michael; Murphy, Michael Ross
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the delivery of transportation infrastructure are said to offer increased efficiency resulting from the private sector’s life-cycle approach to design and construction. While the literature on PPPs endorses such efficiencies, studies don’t provide empirical support for that claim. The goal of this thesis was to assess that notion. Four tasks were carried out to explore that issue. First, a literature review searched for evidence of such efficiencies and methodologies to evaluate them. Second, a simple methodology to evaluate the life-cycle cost-efficiencies of the public and private sectors was proposed. Third, since most PPP projects in the U.S. are recent and currently subject to routine operations and maintenance (O&M), indicators to compare those costs were proposed as well. Fourth, a case study compared the routine O&M costs of a PPP and of those of a system of publicly developed and managed tollroads. The literature review found no empirical evidence of superior O&M cost-efficiency of PPPs, and also, that most studies focused on design and construction cost and schedule overruns. While some studies assessing performance and/or efficiency were at times theoretical and not likely employed in practice, one methodology is proposed to evaluate life-cycle cost-efficiency. The case study results showed that the concessionaire was more cost-efficient in terms of operating expenditures (OPEX) per mile (-60%) and per lane-mile (-53%) than the system. The public system was more cost-efficient in OPEX per vehicle-miles travelled (97%), number of toll transactions (332%), and toll revenue (20%). However, those three indicators depend on traffic volume which during the study period was overwhelmingly greater on the public system. While the case study showed cost-efficiency differences between the public and private sectors, additional research is needed to empirically test the hypothesis of greater efficiency of the private sector. The proposed framework can be used, but adequate data and further assumptions about O&M costs are needed; for that, it is recommended that more comprehensive case studies be performed to obtain detailed empirical data. A better understanding of the differences in cost-efficiency between publicly and privately managed roads will help decision-makers minimize the life-cycle cost of their investments.
Autonomous Rural Transportation Challenges and Opportunities in Iinan-cho, Shimane, Japan, PRP 211
(LBJ School of Public Affairs, 2020) Eaton, David
The Japanese government views autonomous vehicle (AV) technology as an inevitable market target of opportunity for its transportation sector. Japan expects to be among the first nations to realize AV benefits and export them to the rest of the world. The Japanese government subsidizes research, testing, and development of AV technology (see Table E1). The rural town of Iinan-cho (hereafter referred to as Iinan), in the mountainous Shimane Prefecture north of Hiroshima, is involved in Japanese government-supported AV testing. Local and regional governments partnered with automobile suppliers to test AVs on Iinan’s streets. Iinan residents participated in pilots with self-driving buses and hailing apps. This report considers challenges and opportunities for Japan to implement AV technology that can serve the needs of rural and elderly residents. Fully autonomous vehicles can provide benefits to agricultural and rural communities by increasing riders’ safety, providing more transportation options, and lowering the cost of transporting goods. The large elderly population in Iinan may benefit as some elderly cease to drive. Based on surveys and interviews with stakeholders, AVs may also have adverse effects in Iinan. Residents expressed concerns about AV reliability in extreme weather conditions, job loss, and high costs. Uncertainty surrounding the cost and availability of AV technology represents a continuing challenge that complicates the design of appropriate national and regional policies. The findings and policy implications of this report could be relevant to Iinan, other rural areas in Japan, and around the world. Table E1 lists this report’s key findings regarding the potential use of AVs in Iinan. This study outlines some research methods to describe the economic and social impacts of AV technology as a potentially disruptive technology. This report describes current and potential policies for managing those impacts in a sustainable and socially responsible manner by reducing economic costs and adverse effects.
La batalla por la carrera interoceánica en el sur peruano: ¿localismo o descentralismo?
(2003-04) Llosa, Eleana
A behavioral framework for tourism travel time use and activity patterns
(2010-08) Lamondia, Jeffrey; Bhat, Chandra R. (Chandrasekhar R.), 1964-; Walton, Michael; Machemehl, Randy; Abrevaya, Jason; McCray, Talia
American households spend over $30 billion on tourism and take over 177 million long-distance leisure trips each year. These trips, and the subsequent vehicle miles traveled, have a significant impact on the transportation systems at major destinations across the country, especially those destinations that are still improving their transportation systems. Surprisingly, not much is known related to this type of travel. This dissertation expands the current knowledge of tourism travel behavior, in terms of how people make decisions regarding long-distance leisure activities and time use. Specifically, this dissertation develops and comprehensively examines a behavioral framework for household tourism time use and activity patterns. This framework combines (and builds upon) theory and methods from both transportation and tourism research fields such that it can be used to improve tourism demand modeling. This framework takes an interdisciplinary approach to describe how long distance leisure travelers allocate and maximize their time use across various types of activities. It also considers the many levels of tourism time use and activity patterns, including the structuring the broad annual leisure activity and time budget, forming individual tourism trips within the defined budget, and selecting specific activities and timing during each distinct tourism trip. Subsequently, this dissertation will additionally apply the time use and activity participation behavioral framework to four critical tourism research topics to demonstrate how the tourism behavioral framework can effectively be used to provide behavioral insights into some of the most commonly studied critical tourism issues. These application topics include household participation in broad tourism travel activities, travel parties’ tourism destination and travel mode selection, individuals’ loyalty towards daily and tourism activities, and travel parties’ participation in combinations of specific tourism trip activities. These application studies incorporate a variety of data sources, decision makers, study scales, situation-appropriate modeling techniques, and economic/individual/environmental factors to capture all aspects of the decision and travel activity-making process.
Beyond current means : meeting public aviation demand in the border region in 2035
(2010-05) Phillips, Natasha Allyn; Sletto, Bjørn
Although not often discussed in planning curriculum across the United States, airports are a very significant part of the country’s transportation infrastructure. With so much emphasis placed on ground transportation modes such as light rail, bus, and bike, the impact of aviation on the transportation world gets lost in translation. This study seeks to bring airport planning back into the conversation by analyzing population projections, income, and industry and their affect on airport preparedness to meet increasing population demands. By using population projections through 2035 for the State of Texas, gross population and population growth rates were used to select counties within Texas that may be most in need of airport planning considerations. Counties along the Texas-Mexico border were analyzed in further detail for planning considerations and preparedness based on their population growth rates. Hidalgo County’s McAllen-Miller International Airport (MFE) was found to be proactively seeking changes to their airfield that matched recommendations based on their population increase. However, the level of coordination with city or county level authorities is lacking.
Car sharing as an alternative to car ownership: opportunities for carsharing organizations and low-income communities
(2016-08) Sanchez, Alvan-Bidal Timothy; Mueller, Elizabeth J.; Greenberg, Sherri
Car sharing organizations (CSOs) have established themselves as a formal mode of transportation across the United States. These systems purport to offer their members the benefits of a private vehicle, without any of the accompanying pitfalls. Despite these benefits, low-income individuals are less likely to be a member of a CSO than higher-income individuals. This paper synthesizes the major transportation issues facing low-income individuals, explores possible opportunities between CSOs and low-income communities, and examines 7 CSOs for best practice in encouraging participation by low-income individuals. The findings show that when viewed as one piece of the transportation puzzle, CSOs can fill gaps in the transportation system and provide numerous benefits. With community partnerships, innovative solutions, and active outreach, CSOs can broaden awareness of carshare systems and facilitate increased usage among low-income individuals.
Climate action strategies for the University of Texas at Austin
(2010-05) Hernandez, Marinoelle; Eaton, David J.; Walker, Jim H.
This report analyzes the current greenhouse gas emissions inventory for The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin), reviews the carbon reduction strategies being implemented at UT-Austin and other peer institutions, and offers recommendations for strategies that could reduce greenhouse gas emissions at UT-Austin in the future.
Combined transportation and utility construction : analysis of approach
(2005-12-24) Goldman, Grant Kielty; O'Connor, James Thomas
As an increasing number of TxDOT highway projects are completed in congested, interference-prone environments, timely utility adjustment is more critical than ever before. This study investigates effective implementation of a utility adjustment approach that involves combining the required utility adjustment work with the highway contractor’s scope of work (the CTUC approach), theoretically reducing much of the commonly associated challenges and risks. This report contains a review of current literature, analysis of the CTUC vs. conventional approach decision making process, description of the CTUC adjustment process model, and a discussion of benefits and challenges associated with the CTUC adjustment approach
Communicating value to stakeholders: a customer-oriented KPI system for state DOTs
(2015-12) Chin, Kristie; Walton, C. Michael; Row, Shelley
With the erosion of public trust, increasing shortfalls in funding, and continuous forces of disruption, State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) can no longer afford to rely upon traditional models of performance management that address all stakeholder concerns with a single approach. A customer-oriented key performance indicator (KPI) system offers a new paradigm and is based upon stakeholder segmentation and mapping. The value of this system rests in its ability to communicate the right information to the right decision-makers by aligning the customer’s needs with the organization’s mission and other stakeholder priorities. This thesis synthesizes best practices used within and outside the transportation industry in order to propose a recommended customer-oriented KPI system for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Feedback is collected from each stakeholder group in an effort to validate the methodology. Results indicate the customer-oriented KPI system is preferred over the current performance report for its clarity, accessibility, and relevance.
Cooperation between high-speed rail and air travel in the United States
(2011-05) Suski, Shea Matthew; Zhang, Ming, 1963 Apr. 22-; Walton, Michael
The United States as a whole is embarking on the historic task of implementing high-speed rail (HSR) throughout the country in an attempt to improve regional mobility, including congestion at some of the nation’s busiest airports. However, despite the wide overlapping of service that both air and HSR provide and the goal of reducing airport congestion, little discourse has occurred on the topic of how these two modes might interact in an intermodal context. This report explores how air travel and HSR might cooperate in the US, which is defined as an explicit attempt by the two modes to utilize each other in order to transport a passenger to their final destination. It will document potential benefits of cooperation, survey how cooperation works elsewhere in the world, and investigate the current climate within the US for cooperation, including a review of current HSR plans and analysis of air travel data. This information will form the basis for suggested airports for the integration of HSR and air travel, and for how US airlines might utilize HSR. Lastly, lessons learned will form a list of best practices to follow in order to better insure a cooperative and successful relationship between HSR and air travel.
Covered in ads : the equity implications of advertisement-funded transit infrastructure
(2023-05-04) Butcher, Victor Allan; Rosenbloom, Sandra; Karner, Alex
This report explores a ubiquitous yet underexplored way of funding, installing, and maintaining public transportation infrastructure: public-private-partnerships between municipalities and private advertising firms, focusing on the equity implications of such partnerships for existing transit riders and historically disadvantaged groups. Such partnerships, such as Los Angeles, California’s first advertisement-based bus stop shelter program, have resulted in negative equity outcomes. In Los Angeles, researchers found that the advertising partner had placed the majority of shelters in wealthier, whiter areas of the city, rather than areas of high transit ridership. This report then applies and expands upon the methods used by researchers in the Los Angeles context to the two bus stop improvement programs in Denver, Colorado. The analysis compares the differences in equity outcomes between the city/county’s advertisement-based program and the transit operator’s ridership-focused program. I find that Denver’s advertisement-based bus stop improvement program has allowed advertisers to place shelters in wealthier, whiter areas of Denver and that the shelters placed by the local transit operator serve far more transit riders than the advertisement-based program. Municipalities should define their equity goals when crafting partnerships with advertising firms and should develop strong mitigation measures against the principal-agent problem that arises with such partnerships.
Defining sustainability in transportation : an effort to strengthen MAP-21
(2013-05) Tinjum, Aaron Jacob; Boske, Leigh B.
The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies identifies nine current and critical issues facing the United States transportation sector: congestion, environmental preservation, deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate funding, social equity issues, susceptibility to natural disasters, insufficient safety improvements, outdated government institutions and a lack of investment in innovation. All of these issues directly threaten the sustainability of transportation in the United States. While numerous transportation stakeholders have presented definitions of sustainable transportation, there is significant variation and disagreement over what sustainability actually means in transportation. The absence of a coherent, universal definition has undermined the overall effectiveness of transportation plans, policies and programs, including the current federal highway authorization, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) as well as the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program. Through examining the definitions of sustainable transportation put forth by the European Union, Transport Canada, the Transportation Research Board (TRB), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities and various state departments of transportation (DOTs), this report seeks to establish a clear definition of sustainable transportation, adopt applicable sustainable transportation indicators and offer meaningful recommendations that help strengthen the overall sustainability of MAP-21 and the CMAQ program.
Demographic and demand characteristics of carsharing : a case study of Austin, Texas
(2008-05) Thomen, Martin K.; Zhang, Ming, 1963 April 22-
Demographic and Demand Characteristics of Carsharing: A Case Study of Austin, Texas explores the use of geospatial analysis in order to understand the demand characteristics and market for carsharing services. A literature review was performed and the demographic characteristics of typical users of carsharing were established. A series of maps was created to geospatially identify concentrations of typical users and their location and access in reference to carsharing vehicle locations. The greater urbanized area of Austin, Texas located within Travis County was used as a case study for this analysis. The report demonstrates that geospatial analysis is a valuable tool to understand the spatial relationship between typical carshare users, nontypical carshare users and the placement of carshare vehicles.
Developing an infrastructure informed walkshed and bikeshed
(2013-12) Necessary, Mallory Suzanne; Boyles, Stephen David, 1982-
In this thesis, an infrastructure informed index is developed for pedestrians and bicyclists to relate the natural and built environment with its impact on perceived travel distance and time. The objective is to develop an easy to use metric for use at all levels, allowing transportation planners to make better informed decisions when planning or redeveloping a city or area. Building off of similar research efforts, attributes are determined and weighted to capture the characteristics of a link, then summed to create the infrastructure informed index for pedestrians and bicyclists, respectively. These indices are then visualized using ArcGIS mapping tools, creating a service area around specific origin or destination points to see the effective area a pedestrian or bicyclist can travel taking into account the effects of the infrastructure along the route.
Development of a tool for estimation of total cost of commute in Austin
(2015-12) McElduff, Kelsey Ann; Machemehl, Randy B.; Zhang, Zhanmin, 1962-
While intelligent consumers aim to investigate all costs and benefits prior to making travel mode decisions, much of the information needed is not readily available to them. There is even less knowledge of the costs and benefits to society that reflect those decisions. If there were a tool for transportation users to see the actual cost of their commute they would be able to make more informed decisions about travel. The purpose of this research is to create the background information for a tool in the form of a web application that will enable users to visualize the individual and societal costs and benefits of their own commutes. The information will materialize in the form of eight equations for estimating internal and external cost by four different modes of travel.