Policy analysis Division

Developing transportation public policy through research and innovation.

What We Do

Funding and Finance

TTI researchers examine funding and financing alternatives across all transportation modes and the resulting economic impacts of various policy options. Building and maintaining the state’s transportation infrastructure require significant costs. TTI’s research helps inform policy decisions that will determine how best to manage those costs.

Technology

TTI researchers discover insights that guide efforts to enhance mobility through automation and digital connection. The world is becoming increasingly connected, and vehicle technology is evolving rapidly. TTI’s research helps inform policy decisions that represent transportation innovation and ambition in a digitally connected world.

Regulatory Analysis

TTI researchers provide insights and analyses of past, present and proposed transportation rules and regulations to improve public policy for a safer, more equitable multimodal transportation system.

All Modes

TTI policy researchers delve into topical policy issues for all modes of transportation. This includes traditional passenger and commercial vehicles on roadways, electric vehicle infrastructure, freight and passenger rail, marine vessels and port infrastructure, aviation — including general aviation and urban air mobility — public transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Aviation

Aviation is constantly evolving from the introduction of advanced air mobility to new fuels and safety standards. TTI researchers conduct in-depth analysis on policy and regulatory issues surrounding emerging aviation technologies, provide planning support to public entities on aviation topics, and develop tools to aid general aviation airports with grant assurance compliance and economic development.

A man in a blue shirt charges an electric vehicle at a ClipperCreek charging station in a parking lot.

Rows of black hardcover reference books labeled Texas Highways are neatly arranged on shelves in a library or archive, with a person visible in the background.

Our Focus Areas

Funding Alternatives

Exploring new innovative revenue sources.

Economic Impact Analysis

Determining the impact on the local economy.

Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA)

BCA analysis for federal grant programs.

Legal Reviews

Aiding policymakers in transportation-related decision-making.

Transportation and Weather Synergy

Researching the nexus between weather and transportation.

Energy Sector Policy Analysis

Energy production impacts on surrounding infrastructure and local economies.

Innovative Technology Policy

Automated and connected vehicles, innovative transportation management strategies, enhanced traveler information and vehicle telematics to support road user fees.

Aviation Planning and Policy

Providing decision makers with actionable data and insights.

Our Work

A quadcopter drone flies above a paved surface, with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

Urban Air Mobility Support

TTI supported the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) Aviation Division in coordinating meeting activity of the Urban Air Mobility Advisory Committee created by Senate Bill 763 in the 87th Legislature in 2021. This included four subcommittees and produced a final report for the 88th Legislative Session.

A silver Nuro self-driving car with roof sensors is parked on a paved area near other vehicles on a cloudy day.

Investigate Potential Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Liability Issues within TxDOT

Although governmental entities typically enjoy some level of sovereign immunity, there are areas identified in state law where they have limited liability for specific torts. This research project for TxDOT’s Research and Technology Implementation Program (report 0-7130) identified potential tort liability for governmental agencies associated with CAV technologies. TTI provided foundational research necessary for TxDOT to proactively identify, assess and address legal liabilities that may arise under current law and legal liabilities that may arise under new law as the result of CAV implementation.

Several semi-trailer trucks drive in both directions on a wide road beneath overhead signs, with more trucks visible in the background.

Freight and Statewide Planning Policy

TTI develops monthly Freight and Statewide Planning Policy reports for TxDOT sections within the Transportation Planning and Programming Division. Freight monthly reports, shared also with Texas Freight Advisory Committee members, offer information on state and federal legislation and regulation with freight impacts, freight statistics and multimodal freight news with impacts to the Texas economy. Statewide Planning monthly reports cover similar areas focusing on long range planning, functional classification, resilience and carbon planning, transportation habits surveys and performance measurement.

Three oil pumpjacks operate in a grassy field with a tree in the foreground and a gas flare burning near industrial equipment in the background under a clear sky.

The Permian Basin: Overall Economic Assessment

TTI prepared a report for the Permian Strategic Partnership estimating the potential impact of infrastructure investment and identifying possible solutions. The study showed that a $1 billion investment in the Permian Basin’s transportation infrastructure — including widening roads and adding passing or turn lanes — could prevent more than 4,000 crashes over 30 years. The investment would also reduce traffic delays by more than 270,000 hours each year.

Aerial view of a highway and bridge surrounded by floodwaters, with some submerged trees and structures nearby. Several vehicles are visible on the road.

Southern Regional Climate Center

TTI is lead agency for the Southern Regional Climate Center (SRCC), under contract to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Center for Environmental Information, which provides climate data to users in the six state southern region (TX, OK, LA, AR, MS and TN). The center is a partnership between TTI, Texas A&M University’s Atmospheric Sciences Department and Trabus Technologies. The SRCC maintains a website for access to the data and responds to requests from users. Of particular note are the efforts to integrate climate data into the transportation space — a key component of safety and resilience analysis.

A webpage shows options to increase state fuel taxes on the left and a bar chart displaying annual revenues from 2018 to 2040 on the right.

Transportation Revenue Estimator and Needs Determination System (TRENDS)

This tool created for TxDOT and Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Texas allows transportation planners to develop transportation funding alternative scenarios based on user-defined parameters that can be used in long range planning financial projections. The model incorporates data from the Comptroller, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and TxDOT on motor vehicle registrations, traffic levels and motor fuel tax collections.

Small Airport Economic Impact Estimator

This tool was developed for TxDOT’s Aviation Division to provide small airports (general aviation airports and non-hub commercial service airports) with estimates of their economic impact including employment, income and total output. It includes economic impacts associated with airport sponsor, airport tenant and airport visitor activity.

A screenshot of the M.A.R.K.E.T. tool shows tables for project input parameters on the left and benefits and costs outputs with values on the right. A Calculate button is at the bottom.

Measuring Agricultural Relevance of Key Expenditures in Transportation (MARKET)

TTI developed this tool for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service to provide a high-level estimate of the benefits to the agricultural sector associated with a U.S.–Mexico border transportation project. The model uses a benefit-cost analysis approach to calculate the vehicle operating cost savings, business and personal time and reliability cost savings, safety benefits, logistics/freight cost savings, environmental benefits and economic impacts in the form of business output and the positive effect of wage income.

A summary table showing costs and benefits of a project for Dallas County, Addison, and Dallas ISD over 5, 10, and 30 years, with categories like tax revenue and economic activity.

Local Area Benefit/Cost Evaluation System for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)

TTI developed a tool for DART — the regional transit authority for cities in Dallas and Collin counties — to estimate the economic activity and associated tax revenues associated with transit-oriented development around DART’s light rail stations.

The Team

our Leaders