HOUSTON — May 5, 2010 — IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), the largest university-based transportation research agency in the U.S., have agreed to collaborate on research and development of intelligent transportation projects in Texas and beyond. The agreement will bring together research scientists and engineers from IBM and TTI researchers, faculty and […]
Archives for 2010
Analysis sheds light on growing nighttime driving danger
(Full report and state-by-state illustrations are available.) A new nationwide analysis suggests that distractions — not alcohol — are contributing to a steady increase in nighttime fatal crashes for teenage drivers. The trends are illustrated in a report produced by the Teens in the Driver Seat Center of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). The analysis […]
Transportation Hall of Honor Inducts Port Pioneer
A man responsible for the development of the Texas port system has been posthumously inducted into the Texas Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Texas Transportation Hall of Honor as its 31st member. The children of Frank H. Newnam, Jr., were presented the award during the 75th anniversary celebration of Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, Inc. (LAN), a Houston […]
Christiansen Receives Prestigious ITE Honor
In its highest recognition of notable and outstanding professional achievement, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) awarded Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) Agency Director Dennis Christiansen with Honorary Membership. Christiansen becomes ITE’s 77th Honorary Member. “Dr. Christiansen has demonstrated his leadership and dedication to the transportation profession as a former Texas District director on ITE’s Board […]
King of Congestion” Interviewed by AASHTO”
The nation’s leading researcher on mobility, Texas Transportation Institute Research Engineer Tim Lomax, has been dubbed “The King of Congestion” by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Lomax was interviewed by AASHTO for a four-minute profile video entitled Close Up with the King of Congestion. In the interview, Lomax details the […]
Preventable Traffic Deaths Highlighted at Safety Conference
Several speakers at the 2010 Traffic Safety Conference shared the tragedy of losing a loved one with the 200 people attending the second statewide forum organized by the Texas Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Center for Transportation Safety (CTS). The conference, with the theme “Putting the Pieces Together,” was held in Dallas, March 29-31. “One of the […]
Grand Opening of TTI State Headquarters & Research Building Focuses on Safety
The March 26 grand opening celebration for the state headquarters of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) not only highlighted the past accomplishments of the Institute’s last 60 years, but also the work that still needs doing. “Quite frankly, this new facility is clearly the envy of our peers,” TTI Agency Director Dennis Christiansen told the […]
TTI Celebrates Opening of State Headquarters & Research Building
When the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) formally opens its new state headquarters Friday, those familiar with the agency will not be surprised to discover that a large part of the first floor is devoted to a working research lab. The TTI State Headquarters and Research Building not only provides the first official state headquarters in […]
TDS Impact Revealed in Garland News Conference
Safer driving habits by teenagers in Garland, Texas, have helped to sharply reduce fatal crashes in that community, according to a recent case study by researchers from the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). The announcement was made at a recent news conference in Garland. The researchers attribute the improvements to a combination of two factors: the […]
Freight Shuttle Study Underway for Border Crossing Use
The results of a $650,000 feasibility study — made possible recently with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy — could determine the near-term role in border applications of the Texas Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Freight Shuttle, a revolutionary cargo movement concept developed by Assistant Agency Director Steve Roop. The study is examining the practicability of […]
TTI Research Facility Gets North American Exposure
Members of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and its Advisory Group on Sustainable Freight Transportation in North America were the first group to tour TTI’s new Environmental and Emissions Research Facility (EERF). The CEC was in College Station last month for a three-day workshop. Located at the Riverside Campus, the facility contains the largest […]
Available reports and products
Technical Reports “Assessment of a Traffic Monitoring System for a Major Traffic Generator to Improve Regional Planning: Technical Report,” by Todd Carlson, 0-5531-2, November 4, 2009. “Considerations for Rigid vs. Flexible Pavement Design When Allowed as Alternate Bids: Technical Report,” by Andrew Wimsatt, 0-6085-1, November 5, 2009. “Corrosion Performance Tests for Reinforcing Steel in Concrete: […]
Awards and more
Bligh, Little Join Elite A&M System Group TTI Research Engineer Roger Bligh and Senior Research Fellow Dallas Little were honored in December with two of the highest tributes awarded by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. Bligh was named one of only 71 Regents Fellows by the A&M System Board of Regents as […]
TTI at TRB
When Assistant Professor and Assistant Research Engineer Dominique Lord received word that he had won a major award that would be presented at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 89th Annual Meeting, it was a big surprise. After all, he didn’t know he was in the running. Without his knowledge, Associate Professor and Research Engineer Gene […]
TTI Loses a Dear Friend: Bob Gallaway, 1916-2009
The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) lost one of its dearest friends on November 29, 2009, when Bob M. Gallaway passed away after an extended illness. Gallaway, a longtime supporter of TTI and professor emeritus at Texas A&M University, was 93. Although he eventually gained prominence as a respected mentor and beloved teacher of engineers for […]
Two New Transportation Research Centers Housed at TTI
Two new transportation research centers were approved by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents during a meeting in January. Both centers, housed at the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), were established to improve the transportation system in Texas and across the country. The Center for Strategic Transportation Solutions (CSTS), created by the 81st Texas […]
Work Zone Up Ahead: Other States Call TTI for Work Zone Research
Traffic operations, such as improving the safety and efficiency of work zones, are coast-to-coast priorities. Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers journey outside the Lone Star State whenever — and wherever — duty calls. Three recent work zone projects have been part of TTI‘s effort to help sponsors nationwide. Intrusion Countermeasures Orange-and-white drums do not always […]
Teens in the Driver Seat Program Looks to Build on Milestone Year
The phrases “peer pressure” and “spreading like wildfire” tend to carry negative connotations, yet for the Texas Transportation Institute’s (TTI‘s) Teens in the Driver Seat (TDS) program, those phrases are signs of success. With funding from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Section 402 program and State Farm Insurance, the TDS program began in 2003 […]
Flying Cars? Not Quite Yet…: Funding the Future of Texas Transportation
In a classic line from the movie Back to the Future, as Doc Brown’s DeLorean flies off in search of a sequel, the eccentric scientist famously says, “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.” But flying cars aren’t here yet, despite promises from actual scientists as far back as the 1950s. We still need roads. […]
Preserving Lessons from the Field
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has taken great efforts over the years to learn from pavements not performing as well as expected. But it is also possible to learn much from successes. The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) recently conducted a research project to establish a process for TxDOT to use to learn from Texas […]