Banking On Infrastructure: Enhancing State Revolving Funds For Transportation ( 20 page PDF)
In recent years, states and the federal government experimented with a set of innovative finance mechanisms, credit programs, and revolving loan funds to stretch public and private dollars and support the kind of infrastructure investments necessary to build the Next Economy. For transportation projects, much of this support comes in the form of below market revolving loans and loan guarantees from state infrastructure banks (SIBs.)
This research shows that SIBs can be valuable tools for delivering infrastructure projects and can generate more investment per dollar than traditional federal and state grant programs.
Best Practices for Bicycle Trail Pavement Construction and Maintenance in Illinois (95 page PDF)
The main objectives of this report were to provide the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) with guidelines for the structural
design of bicycle trail pavement and recommendations for bicycle trail pavement maintenance. Detailed life cycle cost analyses were conducted for different trail designs and different pavement materials for a design period of 20 years. The analyses showed that relative costs were influenced by surface type and maintenance strategies that were required based on the particular surface type used.
Bike Sharing in the United States: State of the Practice and Guide to Implementation (68 page PDF)
This guide is intended to serve as a resource for transportation planning professionals, as well as public officials considering implementation of a bike sharing program. The guide presents a snapshot of current municipal bike share systems where local jurisdictions (including cities, counties, etc.) are engaged in the funding, managing, administering and/or permitting of bike share implementing practices.
Complete Streets: Policy Analysis 2011 (66 page PDF)
A Complete Streets approach redefines what a street is intended to do, what goals a transportation agency is going to meet, and how the community will spend its transportation money. This report documents the growth of that diverse movement and its strengths by analyzing the more than 350 existing written policies adopted by states, regions, counties, and communities before January 1, 2012.
Policies that come closest to meeting the 'ideal' are highlighted. Used in conjunction with the Complete Streets Local Policy Workbook, this report is also a useful tool for communities looking to develop their own Complete Streets policy based on current best practices.
Electric Drive By '25: How California Can Catalyze Mass Adoption Of Electric Vehicles By 2025 (32 page PDF)
Based on the workshop discussion, this paper identifies the actions that electric vehicle manufacturers, stakeholders, advocates, and government leaders can take to ensure that California catalyzes mass adoption of electric vehicles by 2025.
Improving ADA Paratransit Demand Estimation: Regional Modeling (105 page PDF)
The models described in this report are intended to improve the ability of metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) and transit operators to estimate the probable future demand for ADA-complementary paratransit service. At the same time, the models predict travel by ADA-paratransit-eligible individuals on all modes, not just ADA paratransit.
Low-Stress Bicycling and Network Connectivity (84 page PDF)
Developed by the Mineta Transportation Institute. For a bicycling network to attract the widest possible segment of the population, its most fundamental attribute should be low-stress connectivity, that is, providing routes between people's origins and destinations that do not require cyclists to use links that exceed their tolerance for traffic stress, and that do not involve an undue level of detour. The objective of this study is to develop measures of low-stress connectivity that can be used to evaluate and guide bicycle network planning.
National Mapping of Integrated Transport and Land Use (16 page PDF)
The New Zealand Transport Agency has released a report that explores ways to use geospatial information to understand how transport networks, land-use information, demographics, and key environmental constraints interact.
Operations Guide to Improving Highway Capacity (4 page PDF)
This project developed a guide to using enhanced simulation methods that can test the impact of alternative traffic operations solutions and demonstrate whether or not they solve a problem.
Organizing Transit in Small Urban and Rural Communities (62 page PDF)
The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at North Dakota State University has released a report that investigates the cost structure of the rural transit industry.
Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled: A Summary of National Perspectives (37 page powerpoint PDF)
National Resource Defense Council released results from a nationwide survey of 800 likely voters conducted between June 24 - July 2, 2012. Phone interviews included questions regarding: how Americans travel; perceptions of transportation system; willingness to use public transportation; support for policy changes; and funding transportation improvements.
Safe Routes To School And Traffic Pollution: Get Children Moving And Reduce Exposure To Unhealthy Air (50 page PDF)
This publication seeks to examining the following: the health impacts on children from exposure to traffic pollution; how Safe Routes to School programs can potentially impact children's exposure to traffic pollution; and strategies and practice approaches that can mitigate exposure to traffic pollution.
A Summary of Design, Policies, and Operational Characteristics for Shared Bicycle/Bus Lanes (167 page PDF)
This report conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation, contains the results of an investigation of the design and operation of shared bicycle/bus lanes in municipalities in the United States and other countries. As a result of this investigation, an identification and discussion of the contextual factors, design variables, and tools for planning and implementing shared bicycle/bus lanes is presented.
Using Smartphones to Collect Bicycle Travel Data in Texas (84 page PDF)
Researchers believed that if smartphones could prove to be an effective tool for collecting bicycle travel data, the information could be used for aiding decision making as to what types of facilities users prefer and guiding decisions about future facilities. If adequate facilities were provided, the mode share of bicyclists would increase and lead to a reduction in congestion. Thus, researchers used an existing smartphone application, CycleTracks, developed by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority, to develop this study.
York Blvd: The Economics Of A Road Diet (85 page PDF)
University of California Luskin School Of Public Affairs
This project seeks to determine whether the York Boulevard road diet has helped, hindered, or had no effect on economic activity in the surrounding community. Specifically, the report asks, since the York Boulevard road diet implementation in 2006, has there been any change in local economic activity between the sections of York Boulevard with and without a road diet/bicycle lanes?
The researcher defines local economic activity to comprise quantitative metrics of economic performance, such as property values, as well as qualitative perceptions, namely whether local merchants and customers believe bicycle facilities have a generally positive or negative impact on their businesses and shopping patterns, respectively.
