TREC research addresses complex transportation problems by drawing on multiple disciplines, including engineering, planning, economics and design, from across the Portland State University campus. Use the search box at right to search for a specific project.

Research Highlights

Advancing Safety At Intersections: Measuring The Effectiveness Of Traffic Signal Strategies For Speed Management On Operations And Safety

Sirisha Kothuri
Many states are adopting the Safe System approach (USDOT, 2022) to improve traffic safety. As the role of speed in injury severity is becoming increasingly clear, one of the key elements of a Safe System approach is Safer Speeds. Specifically, higher motor vehicle speeds lead to higher injury severity during a collision, especially for nonmotorized users (Rosén and Sander 2009; Tefft 2013) who are the most vulnerable users in the transportation system. Most pedestrian crashes occur on higher… Read More

ADA Accessible Trail Improvement with Naturally Occurring, Sustainable Materials

Matthew Sleep
Approximately 7,700 years ago—in a cataclysmic event which the Klamath people retold and passed down for over 300 generations—Mount Mazama erupted, forming Crater Lake in Oregon. With molten rock reaching temperatures of up to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, complex chemical reactions ensued. The resulting Mazama ash holds some properties that are similar to those in portland cement. Today, most construction projects use portland cement, which takes an excessive amount of energy to create… Read More