Texas Transportation Institute Associate Research Engineer Melisa Finley was recently elected to serve as vice president/president-elect of the Texas District of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (TexITE). Finley will begin her term as vice president on January 1, 2012, and then serve as president in 2013. Finley’s duties include chairing the program committee and developing […]
Finley Elected President-elect of TexITE
A Smarter Way to Evacuate
This summer, many Texans may root for storms in the Gulf to find their way to Texas. While area government officials would no doubt welcome the rainfall, past experiences involving mass evacuations along the Texas coast have taught them to be prepared for a difficult challenge should a hurricane hit. Researchers at the Texas Transportation […]
Poe to Co-Chair Connected Vehicle Task Force
Christopher Poe, Assistant Director at the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), was named Vice Chair of the Connected Vehicle Task Force, a distinguished group of industry leaders who have the responsibility of advising the society and the public on issues related to deployment of vehicle and highway infrastructure applications that rely on short and long range […]
Drayton McLane Jr. Inducted into Texas Transportation Hall of Honor
Noted Texas business leader Drayton McLane Jr., a pioneer in modern transportation logistics, was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor at a luncheon ceremony in Houston on Thursday, Sept. 8. The luncheon was co-sponsored by the Greater Houston Partnership and the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). “Drayton McLane deserves recognition as one of the […]
Texas’ Click It or Ticket Campaign Celebrates 10 Years of Success
Safety belts save lives and help prevent serious injuries from automobile crashes. Law enforcement officers nationwide spend two weeks around Memorial Day targeting drivers and passengers not wearing their safety belts. Violators can face up to a $250 fine. Texas’ Click It or Ticket (CIOT) campaign achieved a significant milestone this year — 10 years […]
TTI Researchers receive awards at annual ITE meeting
The Traffic Engineering Council Technical Committee on Pavement Marking Patterns Used at Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossings: An Informational Report was selected to receive the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE’s) 2011 Coordinating Council Best Project Award. Kay Fitzpatrick, research engineer at the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), chaired the committee, and TTI Assistant Research Engineer Marcus Brewer was […]
Crash Survivor Credits TTI’s Technology for Saving His Life
If you drive much around Texas or around the country, there is no doubt you have seen the ET-2000 in use on guardrails. Watch this testimonial of a roadside crash survivor, Donny Ohana, and one of the inventors of this TTI-developed technology, Hayes Ross, that Ohana says saved his life. For more information about TTI’s […]
Freight Pioneer Inducted into Texas Transportation Hall of Honor
The founder of Central Freight Lines, Inc., William Woody Callan, was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor July 27 in conjunction with the annual conference of the Texas Motor Transportation Association (TMTA). John Esparza, president and CEO of TMTA, introduced Robert Babbitt, Hall of Honor board member and president and CEO of McDonald […]
TTI study underscores safety benefits of red light cameras
New research suggests that red light cameras help to reduce the number of crashes at intersections where they are installed. The study, although limited to Texas, is one of the most extensive thus far in the nation, and researchers say the findings demonstrate that the automated enforcement method offers an effective means of preventing crash-related […]
State Farm Grant Coincides with Deadliest Month for Teenage Drivers
State Farm has awarded a $100,000 grant to TTI’s Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS), making the company the largest corporate sponsor of the growing peer-based safety program for young drivers. The funding will go toward supporting the program in Texas. State Farm made its announcement on the eve of what is typically the deadliest […]
Christiansen Elected to ITS America Board
Texas Transportation Institute Director Dennis Christiansen was elected to a three-year term on the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) board and joined the board at the organization’s June board meeting. He will also serve on the ITS America Policy and Business Council, which focuses on transportation policy, business leadership, and government and international […]
TTI Freight Shuttle, New Guardrail Highlighted at Patent Luncheon
Eight employees of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) were recognized at the Patent and Innovation Awards Luncheon recently, which was held at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George Bush Presidential Library. Steve Roop, Leslie Olson and Curtis Morgan were honored for their patent, described simply as a freight transportation system and method. The […]
TTI Leads Mileage-Based User Fee Conference
Some 115 federal, state and local government representatives, transportation system users, private-sector representatives and transportation researchers attended the Symposium on Mileage-Based User Fees (MBUF) in Colorado, June 13-14. That represents a 60 percent increase over last year’s attendance. MBUFs, also known as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees, would raise funds based on how many miles […]
Road User Fees: The Right Solution for America?
Experts, Researchers Examine the Issues during Symposium Declining revenue generated from fuel taxes is contributing to the nation’s road construction and maintenance funding crisis. A two-day Symposium on Mileage-Based User Fees (MBUF) will begin Monday, June 13 in Breckenridge, Colorado, to find solutions. MBUF, also known as vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fees, would raise funds […]
It’s Bike to Work Week: Study Hopes to Improve Austin Biking
Researchers from The University of Texas and Texas A&M University are hoping volunteers with smart phones can help them gather better data for improving bicycle routes and services in the Austin area. Using CycleTracks, a free smart phone application available for iPhones and Android-based phones, researchers from the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) and the UT […]
Seymour Receives Regents Fellow Designation
Ed Seymour, Texas Transportation Institute associate agency director, has been presented with a Regents Fellow Service Award, which is among the most prestigious honors bestowed by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The award was presented during ceremonies held March 24 by the Board of Regents. Seymour joins 75 other agency professionals singled […]
McCully Remembered for Texas Highway Beautification
Former Research Scientist Wayne McCully, who played a vital role in beautifying Texas highways — especially every spring — died recently after a long illness. He was 91 years old. McCully was the manager of the Texas Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Vegetation Management Program, a Texas A&M University faculty member in the Range Management Department and […]
Epps Part of NAPA’s Hot-Mix Hall of Fame
Jon Epps, executive associate director of the Texas Transportation Institute, was inducted into the National Asphalt Pavement Association’s (NAPA’s) Hot-Mix Asphalt Hall of Fame at the 56th annual meeting of the association in Orlando, Fla., last month. The hall of fame was “established to recognize and honor individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions […]
RITA’s Appel Tours TTI and UTCs, Connects with Students
During Peter Appel’s recent visit to the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), the Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC) and the University Transportation Center for Mobility™ (UTCM), it was easy to see what motivates the administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), which is an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT). […]
Fight the Gas Pump: TTI Researcher Suggests “Eco-Driving”
For motorists across the country, it feels like history is repeating itself. Average gasoline prices are once again well over $3.00 a gallon. Back in 2007, fuel prices reached these levels, and hit over $4.00 in 2008. Some predictions have prices at the pump heading to $5.00. Commuters are likely once again contemplating changes in […]