Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) Executive Associate Agency Director Katie Turnbull received recognition from the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Managed Lanes Committee on May 23 for her contribution to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) and high-occupancy toll (HOT) research, an effort spanning more than 20 years. The citation states that “[Turnbull’s research findings] and her hands-on involvement in […]
Turnbull Cited for Excellence in Applied Research
Updated Geometric Design Research Report Released
A report that builds on research conducted by Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers over a decade ago has recently been released. Transportation Research Board’s (TRB’s) National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Synthesis 432: Recent Roadway Geometric Design Research for Improved Safety and Operations reviews and summarizes roadway geometric design literature completed and published from 2001 through […]
Historic Architectural Feature Could Help Thwart Terrorist Attacks
A potential new physical security barrier—historically known as a “ha-ha wall”—was first tested this week at the Texas Transportation Institute Proving Grounds in Bryan, Texas. On hand to witness the test were Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp and Texas A&M System Vice Chancellor and Dean of Engineering M. Katherine Banks. The test, sponsored […]
United Arab Emirates Project Addresses Crash Investigation and Reporting
Despite the vastly different cultures between the United Arab Emirates and the United States, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is finalizing a nine-month contract agreement with the Texas Transportation Institute’s Center for Transportation Safety (CTS). The project will center on crash investigation and post-crash site inspection and analysis. “The United Arab Emirates, and especially the […]
TTI Employees Honored for Patents
Members of TTI’s Roadside Safety and Physical Security Division were honored last month by The Texas A&M University System Office of Technology Commercialization for a highway safety product patent issued in 2011. Patent number US 7,883,075 B2 is for a new guardrail end terminal they designed and tested. The product will soon be manufactured by […]
Prominent Speakers Part of Statewide Traffic Safety Conference
With speakers that include the administrator of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the retiring state legislator known by many as “Senator Safety,” the 2012 Statewide Traffic Safety Conference in San Antonio June 4–6 is expected to be well attended. “We are honored that NHTSA Administrator David Strickland and State Sen. Steve Ogden […]
TTI Recognized by Women’s Transportation Seminar International
In May, a Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) project designed to improve community bicycle facilities will receive the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) International 2011 Innovative Solutions Award at the organization’s annual conference in Denver. The project, Using Smartphones to Collect Bicycle Travel Data in Texas, was first honored with the WTS Heart of Texas (HOT) Chapter’s […]
Coulter Field Hosts Educational Air Fair
Nearly 80 fifth graders from Johnson Elementary in Bryan, Texas, participated in a unique, hands-on educational experience at Coulter Field Airport on April 11. The air fair promotes a practical application of math and science through aircraft- and aviation-related meteorological projects. The Doctor James Noel Foundation sponsored the day’s events along with support from the […]
Amy Epps Martin Wins AAPT Award, Elected to Board of Directors
Texas Transportation Institute Research Engineer Amy Epps Martin was recently awarded the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT) Board of Directors Award of Recognition during their annual meeting in Austin, TX. Epps Martin also began her term as one of two AAPT Directors at Large. “I’ve been involved with this organization for several years, so […]
Vice Chancellor Spends the Day at TTI
Dr. M. Katherine Banks, vice chancellor for engineering at The Texas A&M University System, director of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), and dean of the Dwight Look College of Engineering, made her first official visit to TTI on March 22. She was accompanied by Dr. Dennis O’Neal, associate dean for research and deputy director […]
TTI Has Major Role in State Congestion Relief Proposals
After months of working with local agencies about proposed transportation projects in the most congested corridors in the state, TTI presented a detailed report to the Texas Transportation Commission Feb. 23. The report, titled Mobility Investment Priorities — Early Recommendations Report, includes recommendations that will advance major projects that would improve mobility for the areas […]
New Study Makes Strong Case for Wider Edge Line Markings on Rural Two-Lane Highways
A recent study by the Texas Transportation Institute provides the most compelling evidence yet that wider paint lines on roadway shoulders (commonly called edge lines) are a cost-effective, statistically-sound approach to reducing crashes and fatalities on rural two-lane highways. The study, entitled “An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Wider Edge Line Pavement Markings,” was sponsored […]
Capitol Staff Members Briefed on High-Priority Research Initiatives
More than a dozen staff members representing various state legislators and committees visited TTI on February 21 to hear updates on some of the Institute’s high-priority efforts. The program lineup began with an overview of TTI by Agency Director Dennis Christiansen. Other key research area presentations by TTI personnel included: Steve Roop provided a status […]
General Motors Executive Describes Future of Emissions-Free, Safe Cars
Envisioning a world with all-electric cars that don’t crash, a General Motors (GM) official met with TTI employees and two Texas A&M University engineering departments Jan. 31 prior to a presentation he gave that evening at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at the George Bush Presidential Library. Nady Boules, the director of GM’s Electrical and […]
Turnbull Named National Associate
Texas Transportation Institute Executive Associate Agency Director Katie Turnbull has been named a national associate of the National Research Council (NRC). The selection is based on her volunteer service with the TRB. Turnbull joins 28 others in the 2011 Class of National Associates. The program began in 2001 “to recognize extraordinary contributions made by individuals […]
Center for Railway Research to be Established at TTI
With a focus on improving railway safety and enhancing the performance of the nation’s rail system, the Texas A&M Board of Regents has approved establishing the Center for Railway Research (CRR) as a part of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). “Having this center is a very positive step in our plans to increase the breadth and […]
Energy Developments and Our Roadways: Impacts and Strategies
In recent years, there has been a boom of energy-related activities in Texas. While these efforts enhance the state’s ability to produce energy reliably, many short- and long-term impacts on the state’s right of way and infrastructure are not properly documented. The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) recently completed a project to document some of these […]
TTI Research Honored at TRB Annual Meeting
D. Grant Mickle Award A prestigious “best paper” award was given to a team of Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers during the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 90th Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. The D. Grant Mickle Award for the outstanding paper in operations and maintenance was awarded to Kay Fitzpatrick, Susan T. Chrysler, Vichika Iragavarapu, and […]
Alcohol Studies Center Transfers to TTI
On Jan. 4, with approval from The Texas A&M University System chancellor, the administrative responsibility for the Center for Alcohol and Drug Education Studies (CADES) was transferred to TTI. CADES — which was founded and directed by Maury Dennis, a retired Texas A&M University professor and a current senior research scientist at TTI — began operating […]
TTI to Lead Regional Center
The Texas Transportation Institute is the recipient of a $3.5 million federal grant that will extend operations of the Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC) another year. The funding announcement was made this week by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. As a result of the funding, transportation programs at Texas A&M University, The University of Texas […]