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Houston-Area Initiatives

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In the Greater Houston region, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) is helping meet the transportation challenges presented by population growth and limited resources. TTI's research-based solutions are directed toward helping the Houston area's transportation system move people and goods safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. TTI's 25 Houston Office employees include graduate and undergraduate students from area universities.

Serving the Houston Area for 45 Years

TTI's Houston Office was established in 1963. Over the past 45 years, TTI has helped shape the region's transportation system through innovative research, testing, planning and implementation of effective transportation solutions. TTI provided the expertise that helped:

  • plan and develop the world's largest barrier-separated HOV lane system;
  • develop and operate Houston TranStar, the region's transportation and emergency management center; and
  • prepare the region's emergency evacuation plans.

HOV and Managed Lanes

Houston HOV lane entrance

TTI assists TxDOT, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) and H-GAC in the planning, development and evaluation of an integrated system of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) and managed lanes in the Houston region. The 103-mile network has helped make Houston the national leader in carpooling growth. The Houston HOV system carries more than 44,000 vehicles and 138,000 passengers per day. It has 33 parking facilities, with 19,000 parked vehicles per day. TTI research shows that HOV lane usage can save drivers up to 23 minutes of travel time during morning peak hour traffic incidents. The estimated financial benefit of the Houston HOV lane network is in excess of $38 million per year.

Public Transportation

public transportation near Texas Medical Center

The TTI Transit Mobility Program provides expertise in public transportation planning, management and operations. For example, TTI provided technical assistance to the H-GAC for the 2007 survey of fixed-route transit services operated by Houston METRO, Galveston Island Transit, and The Woodlands Express. TTI assisted in identifying the appropriate sample size, defining questions for the survey, setting goals for a valid response rate and monitoring the survey execution. TTI also assisted stakeholders at the Texas Medical Center (TMC) in determining the feasibility of a coordinated internal transportation system for employees in the TMC area.

Houston TranStar

aerial view of a Houston freeway interchange

TTI plays a significant role in the design and development of the Houston TranStar website (http://www.houstontranstar.org), which is the central source for traffic information in the Houston region. TTI develops a wide array of software applications running 24 hours a day at the facility. These applications support the internal traffic management and external traveler information functions, interfacing with traffic sensors, cameras, message signs, highway radio advisories, and incident and lane closure information. The website has been recognized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other organizations as a national model. The website is viewed by about 400,000 users per month.

Hurricane Evacuation Planning

hurricane evacuation symbol on roadway

TTI has worked with multiple agencies, such as TxDOT, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), Texas Department of Public Safety, and the private sector, to help improve regional planning for hurricane evacuations. TTI plays a significant role in assisting these agencies in preparing for the annual hurricane season. Evacuation route planning and assistance in extending video and operational monitoring capabilities beyond the urban areas are just a couple of examples of TTI's contributions.

Construction Project Analyses

TTI assists the Houston District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in determining the economic impact of traveler delay due to major road construction projects and associated road user costs. These analyses assist TxDOT in evaluating motorist delays, developing contract incentives for construction companies and assessing related damages if contract deadlines are not met.

Traffic Sensor Deployment and Testing

TTI assists TxDOT and other local agencies in developing, testing and managing the traffic sensor systems infrastructure at Houston TranStar. TTI pioneered using Automatic Vehicle Identification (AVI) toll tags as real-time freeway travel time probes and has assisted in developing the largest such data collection and processing system in the world. The AVI system provides 15 years of historical data for traffic operations, planning and research, from which TTI provides analysis to measure Houston TransStar system performance and congestion on area roadways.

Freeway Truck Operations and Safety

In 2000, TTI staff began working with TxDOT and the City of Houston to determine the potential operational benefits derived from restricting trucks to a single freeway lane. An initial pilot project on the I-10 (East Freeway) showed a 68% decrease in truck crashes, no negative impact on freeway operations and compliance rates exceeding 95%. This project resulted in recommended guidelines for implementation of lane restriction strategies for trucks statewide.

Traffic Safety

TTI is an active participant in the H-GAC Regional Transportation Safety Council and has analyzed problems related to selected intersections in Pasadena and bicycle and pedestrian issues on the East side of Houston, as well as crash studies on most area freeways. TTI's innovative Teens in the Driver Seat®, a peer-to-peer driver safety outreach program, is being launched in high schools throughout the Houston/Beaumont region. Early TDS program evaluations indicate that teen cell phone use and text-messaging while driving are down 30 percent, and seat belt usage is up 11 percent at participating schools. TTI also conducts safety training for area officials.

Center for Ports and Waterways

view of a Houston port

Through the Center for Ports and Waterways (CPW), TTI has developed historical and market information for cross-Gulf shipping and short sea shipping activities, such as trips between the U.S., Mexico and Central America. This information is used by TxDOT and port authorities to assess port expansion opportunities and the associated impacts on the Texas transportation system. TTI also has investigated the potential for developing container-on-barge services on inland waterways and the impact of mandated port security measures. In addition, TTI has documented air emission, capacity, congestion, safety, infrastructure, economic and fuel efficiency impacts attributed to rail, truck and barge transport. CPW developed and operates the web portal for ports and harbor information.

TTI's Mission

To solve transportation problems through research, to transfer technology and to develop diverse human resources to meet the transportation challenges of tomorrow.

Contact

Anthony Voigt, P.E.
Research Engineer
Texas Transportation Institute
The Texas A&M University System
701 North Post Oak, Suite 430
Houston, Texas 77024
ph. (713) 686-2971
a-voigt@tamu.edu

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