News Archives

In 1985, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) created an anti-ram standard for protecting its embassies. The standard was designed to stop a medium-duty, single-unit truck and accounted for three levels of blast penetration. “Anti-ram barriers are typically used around government buildings, infrastructure facilities, military installations, or any other location where terrorist activity is a […]

In a historic meeting between the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and TTI leaders, Rep. James Oberstar arrived in College Station last month for a tour, saying “TTI creates a forum where ideas can clash.” Called “Mr. Transportation” by Rep. Chet Edwards, who arranged the visit, Oberstar often mentions TTI’s research […]

A new sediment device testing facility at TTI’s Hydraulic, Sedimentation, and Erosion Control Laboratory (HSECL) at the Riverside Campus puts TTI and the Texas Department of Transportation “way ahead” of future, strict run-off regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “For the first time, run-off at construction sites will have to meet EPA restrictions called […]

Armed with evidence of Texas’ massive transportation needs and a looming transportation funding shortfall, State Sen. John Carona — chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee — held a news conference in Austin April 8 to focus attention on the issues. The State’s transportation needs were identified by the 2030 Committee in a […]

A first-of-its-kind symposium will be held on April 14-15 in Austin, Texas to address a controversial subject: the use of mileage-based user fees as a potential transportation financing alternative to the fuel tax. The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) is co-sponsoring the symposium with the University of Minnesota. “Paying a transportation user fee based upon the […]

A standard test method being developed by TTI could increase the safety of nighttime drivers across the country and beyond. Paul Carlson, program manager of the Operation and Design Division, is working to get approval by ASTM International for a standard retroreflectivity test method of rain-soaked pavement markings. “Currently, there is no reliable standard test […]

Having completed their fourth Texas Motorcycle Safety Forum, Center for Transportation Safety (CTS) Director John Mounce and Associate Research Scientist Patricia Turner can look back and feel a sense of accomplishment. But they know their work is far from over. Past forums have produced some major initiatives including the creation of the Texas Motorcycle Safety […]

A crash test and detonation demonstration were the highlights of a tour of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) March 4 for members of the Senate and Legislative Ladies Day. It was apparent that the 67 guests, all wives of Texas Legislators, enjoyed the out-of-the-ordinary show. In attendance were […]

In what could become the standard for training women and minorities for the state’s road construction business, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) is heading up a new two-week program called the Texas Construction Career Academy funded by the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Civil Rights. The innovative program will teach the basics of highway construction […]

Texans drove less for eight consecutive months of 2008 compared to the same month the year before, a TTI study has determined. However, drivers hit the road in force in December thanks to much lower gasoline prices. “It’s the first time we’ve seen eight consecutive decreases in at least a decade,” says Associate Research Scientist […]

The effort to make highway work zones safer worldwide has led to a Global Road Achievement Award for the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, housed and operated by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI). The International Road Federation award was presented in Washington, D.C., January, 12. “This global award is a great honor for TTI […]

Texas Transportation Institute Director Dennis Christiansen has joined a team of national professionals invited to answer timely questions posed in the online transportation blog of the National Journal. The publication “is the leading source of nonpartisan reporting on the current political environment and emerging policy trends.” The experts tackle weekly questions about transportation issues. Some […]

World renowned for his work on the Texas Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Urban Mobility Report, Research Engineer Tim Lomax has been awarded the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents’ highest honor. Lomax was presented with the Regents Fellow Service Award during ceremonies held Dec. 4. The Regents Fellow Service Award is selected for those A&M […]

The gift of lower gasoline prices will most likely put more motorists on the road this holiday season. Being with friends and family this time of year is an American tradition. Unfortunately, so are traffic deaths. “It’s a great tragedy that more than 40,000 people die on our highways each year,” says John Mounce, director […]

Since beginning in 1988, the Southwest Region University Transportation Center (SWUTC) has grown into one of the most highly respected University Transportation Centers (UTC) in that U.S. DOT-sponsored program. Dock Burke, SWUTC director, is quick to identify the institutional sources of the center’s accomplishments. “There are two main reasons why SWUTC has flourished since October […]

The inaugural gathering of traffic safety professionals, policymakers and practitioners was a rousing success, according to John Mounce, director of the Texas Transportation Institute’s Center for Transportation Safety. Mounce moderated the conference. The 2008 Traffic Safety Conference was held in Houston, Texas, November 17-19, 2008. TTI hosted the event in conjunction with the Texas Department […]

In conjunction with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Houston-Galveston Area Council, the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) will host the 2008 Traffic Safety Conference in Houston, Texas, November 17-19, 2008. The conference provides an opportunity for transportation professionals and officials from around the state to come together and discuss important safety issues challenging their […]

Teen traffic fatalities are seeing a sharp drop in Texas, and researchers say that part of the credit for the first time goes to an unlikely source—teenagers themselves. Involvement in Teens in the Driver Seat® (TDS), the nation’s first peer-to-peer safety program for young drivers developed by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), is one way […]

Charles J. “Jack” Keese was inducted into the Texas Transportation Hall of Honor today. Keese served as the first full-time director of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) from 1962 to 1976. Friends and family joined TTI staff to celebrate Keese’s contributions to transportation at the Gibb Gilchrist Building in the Texas A&M University Research Park. […]

From her home in Beijing, China, Jianping Sun travels the 8.5 kilometers to her office everyday to the Beijing Transportation Research Center (BTRC) where she’s worked as a mobility expert for four years. She’s one of about 50 employees at the center, which was established in 2001. Her 5-mile commute takes nearly an hour each […]