By Melissa Tooley When companies across the country recently announced new work-from-home policies in response to COVID-19, the news sent employees and companies alike into a tailspin, creating hardships for many. Workers scrambled to retrieve computers, files and supplies from their workplace and identify a space at home to work; IT departments hustled to assist […]
Teleworking – The New Normal?
Truck Drivers Are Essential Workers, Too
By Allan Rutter When the Oxford Dictionary chooses its word of the year for 2020, “essential” will be a strong contender, as the label for these service providers we couldn’t function without during the COVID-19 pandemic: First responders, nurses, doctors, and other hospital workers. Grocery store stockers, cashiers, and baggers. And of course, truck drivers. […]
TTI’s Kuhn Named Regents Fellow for Transportation Leadership, Service
With an unmatched dedication to improving the lives of motorists in Texas and across the country, Senior Research Engineer Beverly Kuhn has been named a Regent’s Fellow by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The 30-year employee of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) will be honored with the Regents Fellow Award during […]
The Paradox of Public Transit in a Pandemic
By Michael Walk During a pandemic, public transit may illustrate the ultimate Catch 22, even as dire conditions underscore the vital need for transit services in many communities. In the widening battle against COVID-19, we’ve been admonished to distance ourselves from each other to lower our risk of contracting the disease or spreading it to […]
How Tech Can Untangle and Transform Campus Traffic
Texas A&M’s living laboratory environment harnesses the brainpower of students, faculty and researchers and fosters innovation to maintain campus mobility By Katherine Turnbull and Peter Lange Texas A&M University’s main campus, a 5,200-acre classroom/laboratory without walls in College Station, has consistently ranked in the top five for the largest student population in the nation, with […]
Are You Currently “Home” Schooling? Add Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety to Your Child’s Schoolwork
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has closed schools statewide and left a lot of parents “home schooling” their children. If you have an elementary-age child, this is a great time to incorporate pedestrian and bicycle safety into their schoolwork. Teaching your children pedestrian and bicycle safety will help them be safer as they explore your neighborhood. […]
2020 National Work Zone Awareness Week
Safe Work Zones for All: Protect workers This week, April 20-24, is National Work Zone Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “Safe Work Zones for All: Protect workers. Protect road users.” Across the country, various agencies will work together to promote safe driving habits in work zones with an emphasis on reminding drivers that work […]
Now’s the Time to Teach Your Teen to Drive
The Silver Lining in the COVID-19 Cloud The entire world is practicing social distancing, and some of us are under shelter-in-place orders. You might find you have some extra time on your hands. If you’re a parent with a teen at home, you might find yourself even growing a bit antsy for something to do […]
Car Crashes Are Down. Working From Home Keeps Us Safe On the Road
By Gregory Winfree No one yet knows how many Americans will die this year from COVID-19. But here’s a pretty safe bet on the number who will die in car crashes: Likely not as many as last year. Call it an unintended benefit of widespread stay-at-home orders designed to fight the spread of the coronavirus. […]
Need a Free, Fun Science Activity for Your 4th–6th Grader?
TTI Sheds a Light on Traffic Sign Reflectivity The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is offering parents and their homebound students a unique and inspiring lesson in the science behind how roadway objects like street signs and lane markings can be seen at night—a property called retroreflectivity. Aimed at 4th to 6th graders, the at-home […]
TTI’s Lomax Receives TSPE 2019 Engineer of the Year Award
Known for his leadership in producing the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Urban Mobility Report, TTI Research Fellow Tim Lomax received the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Brazos Chapter 2019 Engineer of the Year Award Feb. 18. Founded in 1936, TSPE is a state society and part of the National Society of Professional Engineers. […]
Coronavirus Is Forcing Americans to Develop Work-From-Home Habits That Could Benefit Us for a Long Time
Suppressed traffic makes travel easier for emergency vehicles and supplies and offers long-term benefits, too. By Bill Eisele America’s answer to our public health crisis is, naturally, all about preserving human life. Working from home will surely help limit the spread of the coronavirus and save many lives. But this new workday normal is serving […]
A Good Time for a Walk? Sure, but Stay Safe
Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has temporarily altered life as we knew it — we’re all operating under more stress and often in tighter quarters. With some of our communities currently under shelter-in-place orders, many of us now work remotely, while others still must venture out to provide essential services. You might have already noticed that more […]
Kuhn Elected ITE International Vice President
Beverly Kuhn, Texas A&M University System Regents Fellow and division head with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), was elected the 2021 International Vice President of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). Since joining as a student 30 years ago, Kuhn has been active in ITE at every level and is currently an ITE Fellow. […]
Winfree Column in March/April 2020 Traffic Technology International Now Available
In the March/April 2020 edition of Traffic Technology International, Texas A&M Transportation Institute Director Greg Winfree outlines the rise of COVID-19 in the world and the impact our global transportation system plays in the spread of the virus. “Transportation tech infrastructure and policy can help prevent–rather than promote–the spread of the disease,” notes Winfree in […]
Texas Transportation Hall of Honor 2020 Call for Nominations
The Texas Transportation Hall of Honor board is accepting nominations for 2020 inductees until July 31, 2020. Texas is recognized as having one of the finest multimodal transportation systems in the world. The existence of this system has been a key aspect of the economic development of the state and in providing Texans with a […]
Epps Presented with Lifetime Achievement Award, Inducted into AMAP Hall of Fame
Texas A&M Transportation Institute Executive Associate Director Jon Epps accepted the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Modified Asphalt Producers (AMAP) Feb. 12, during the association’s 21st annual conference and workshop in Rancho Mirage, California. The AMAP board of directors also inducted Epps into the AMAP Hall of Fame. AMAP promotes the value […]
If Coronavirus Hits the U.S. Hard, Expect Public Transportation To Be Afflicted
By Eva Shipp As the coronavirus outbreak accelerated, the U.S. State Department on January 30th issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory warning (the highest) instructing Americans to not travel to China. Noteworthy as that is, the China travel ban will affect the lives of very few Americans. The almost certain impact on public transportation in […]
TRB Volunteer Profile: Bill Eisele
Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Senior Research Engineer Bill Eisele was recently profiled as a featured volunteer in the TR News. Eisele also serves as the head of the Mobility Division at TTI and is an expert in mobility analysis, performance management, urban freight transportation, freight mobility and access management. At TRB, Eisele has been […]
TTI’s Sener Appointed to IPATH Board of Directors
Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Associate Research Scientist Ipek Sener was recently appointed to the International Professional Association for Transport & Health (IPATH) Board of Directors. “The aim of IPATH is to share information, exchange ideas, and foster collaboration to improve health, quality of life and well-being in communities by advocating for the integration of […]