CTR News Archive
Research Highlights
March 31, 2006: 50th Anniversary of Interstate Highway System
The Interstate System celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. Texas commemorates this significant milestone with the First Annual Texas Transportation Forum, June 8-9, 2006, in Austin. The two-day conference reflects on the 50th anniversary of the Interstate Highway System and identifies the state's efforts to expand and improve Texas' multimodal transportation network.
Please visit the following links for more information about the Interstate System's 50th anniversary.
AASHTO: Interstate 50th Anniversary
FHWA: 50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System
Related links as listed on the FHWA site
February 19, 2006:
I-35: The road to trouble
by Patrick Driscoll
San Antonio
Express-News Staff Writer
Next time you're in a bottleneck on Interstate 35 and want to cuss someone, consider this: Those most responsible probably aren't within earshot.
They include former President Clinton, whose signing of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement paved the way for a surge in truck traffic; Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines, who helped convince then-Gov. Ann Richards to pull support for high-speed rail plans; and Ric Williamson, who as a member of the state House Appropriations Committee in the 1980s played a key role in diverting state gas taxes, a third of which now don't go to transportation. Read the full story.
January 16, 2006: Urban Planning Can Affect Children's Rate of Physical Activity
Transportation engineer Dr. Chandra Bhat has performed one of the most comprehensive surveys of physical activity in children and found that about as many kids stay active by pedaling their bikes to a friend’s house or walking around a neighborhood as do others by participating in organized athletics. He noted that public attitudes have been shown to impact behavior, so that “changing the built environment to make it more conducive to walking and other activities, while increasing awareness of the benefits of being active, could bring significant benefits for children’s health.” Read the full story.
October 1, 2005: Triangle Neighborhood Transportation Study
The Triangle Neighborhood Transportation Study (TNTS) is an assesment of non-auto needs in the Triangle Neighborhood, coupled with a study of New Urbanism concepts as applied to development. Both the City of Austin and CTR have made TNTS presentations.
View the PowerPoint slides from the City of Austin, shown at the May 10 TNTS meeting. (5.6 MB)
View PowerPoint slides of CTR presentation titled "Austin Triangle Transportation Study: Pedestrian and Non-Motorized Infrastructure Condition Rating System." (458 KB)
Send an e-mail to CTR with comments about TNTS.
March 2005: Rob Harrison quoted in Houston Chronicle
HEADLINE: WEIGHTY ISSUE; Heavier loads may hit roads; Measure proposes increasing the heft of containers on trucks
Rob Harrison, deputy director of the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas, said possible damage to structures is key.
"That is the Achilles heel of using heavier trucks," Harrison said. "They are more productive, but they can cause damage."
Harrison was involved with research in the early 1990s, when there were moves to allow heavier trucks on the roadways.
"We looked at this issue, and the big problem is bridges," he said. "When you talk to proponents, they will say there are just a few of these, and it is not that meaningful. But the problem with a structure is, one overweight vehicle can cause substantial damage."
August 2004: Engineer Surveys Commuter Travel Patterns to Improve Austin Traffic Congestion, Air Quality
CTR Researchers Dr. Travis Waller and Dr. Chandra Bhat were featured on the UT Web in an article titled “Gridlock.” The traffic-related research included a survey completed by Austin commuters. Read the results of the commuter survey (PDF, 459 kb).