The Region X Consortium will soon release a request for proposal in response to one of the following research problem statements relating to: Gathering Low ADT Highway Storm Water Quality Data; or Climate Change Impact Assessment for Surface Transportation in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. OTREC is hoping to assemble a research team involving our university partners and potentially those in any of the Region X states. The total funding for the project is approximately $200,000. The RFP is expected to be released early 2009. Only universities from the four member UTCs in the Northwest are eligible to respond. If you have expertise in one of the following areas and would like to be involved or lead a research team, please contact me at hagedorn@pdx.edu.
OTREC is pleased to announce the posting of the 2009-2010 Request of Proposal (RFP). The total funding available under this RFP is approximately $2 million, and OTREC expects to fund as many high quality proposals as possible to support relevant work that relates to the theme and supports national transportation priorities, initiatives and needs. Due to the nature of our federal funding, project timeframes proposed should be for one year, and should generate measurable results in that time. All OTREC awards require a minimum of 100% match from non-federal sources. Please remember that it is critical that you obtain match commitment as part of putting together your proposal. To download the RFP, proposal and budget forms, please go to: https://trec.pdx.edu/OTRECUS/content/rfp2010.php. To submit your abstract, please go to: https://trec.pdx.edu/OTRECUS/rfp/2010_rfp_form1.php. Abstracts are due 5:00 PM February 20, 2009. OTREC will only accept full proposals for abstracts that are submitted by the deadline. Full proposals are due 5:00 pm on March 20, 2009.
OTREC is pleased to announce the fifth issue of OTREC News. Issues of OTREC News include reports on our research projects, profiles of students and faculty, introductions to our Executive Committee and Advisory Board, updates on education programs and events, reports of partner university transportation news, and examples of exciting collaboration within our Consortium. This issue includes several special features describing ongoing research projects, OTREC’s 2008-2009 Students of the Year and much more. We welcome your feedback on our publications! Please contact us if you would like a paper copy.
OTREC is pleased to present our 2007-2008 Annual Report. This publication is a summary of transportation research, education and technology transfer activities of OTREC for October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008. If you would like a paper copy, please contact us.
OTREC students and faculty were active participants in the 15th World Congress on Intelligent Transportation Systems, held in New York City, November 16-20, 2008. Lisa Diercksen, an MS student at PSU presented “A Second Look at the Effectiveness of the Myrtle Creek Dynamic Advanced Curve Warning System;” Jerzy Wieczorek, an MS student in Statistics at PSU presented “Using Archived ITS Data to Automatically Identify Freeway Bottlenecks in Portland, Oregon;” Rafael J. Fernandez-Moctezuma, a Ph.D. student in computer science at PSU presented “Developing an Imputation Strategy for an Archived Data User Service in Portland, Oregon;” Galen McGill of the Oregon Department of Transportation presented “Accuracy in Real-Time Estimation of Travel Time,” co-authored with PSU Prof. Kristin Tufte. Prof. Robert Bertini of PSU also presented: “Empirical Evaluation of Adaptive Ramp Metering Along Two Freeway Corridors in Portland, Oregon;” and “Toward Transport Payment Integration in Portland, Oregon.” Prof. David Porter and Prof. David Kim, of the OSU Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering also attended the Congress. The World Congress is sponsored by ITS AMerica, ERTICO-ITS Europe and ITS Japan.
Portland State University is committed to supporting research that is both regionally focused and globally relevant. This fall PSU has published a brochure featuring some of its exemplary research including OTREC sponsored projects by researchers Madeleine Pullman and Jennifer Dill. Dr. Pullman's research addresses the logistical issues raised by the rising demand for locally produced foods. She has studied supply chain success stories like that of Country Natural Beef, a cooperative family business committed to environmental responsibility, as well as other enterprises that have been slower to adopt such values, in order to better understand the impediments to change. Dr. Dill's research team has given GPS devices to bicycle commuters and collected rider surveys in order to collect data about the routes cyclists take, gender differences in riding and other information that can help cities better understand cyclistsí infrastructure needs. This regionally aimed research creates universal models of environmental responsibility and sustainability from which other cities can benefit.
The proceedings from January 2008 OTREC Sponsored Building Future Leadership Seminar are now available.
This unique workshop aimed at sharing knowledge with future leaders in transportation attracted over 100 transportation professionals from regional public and private agencies. Guest speakers and panel members from TriMet, Metro, David Evans and Associates, Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, and the City of Portland shared their passion for the Portland transit story with those who will be developing the transportation systems of tomorrow.
The Sixth Annual Region X Student Conference was held on November 7, 2008 in Seattle Washington. Twenty students from PSU, fifteen from University of Washington, eight from OSU, five from University of Idaho, three from UO and one from Reed College participated in this conference. Of the ten student presentations given at the conference six were from OTREC Partner Institutions PSU, UO and OSU! Student presenters included Tim Brass (UO) on Using Mobile GIS for Assessing Accessibility of Pedestrian Facilities / OU Bike Loan Program Raul Avelar (OSU) on Low-cost Data Collection and Estimation of Roundabout Traffic Volumes, Wei Feng (PSU) on Transition Features Near a Freeway Congestion, Alex Bigazzi (PSU) on Adding Sustainability Performance Measures to a Transportation Data Archive and Meead Saberi Kalaee (PSU) on Evaluation the Data Accuracy of Loop Detectors in Adaptive Signal Control Systems.
Christo Brehm, University of Oregon, is currently pursuing a concurrent graduate degree in Community and Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Oregon. He holds an undergraduate degree in Planning, Public Policy and Management and has spent many years working in the field of affordable housing. While a University of Oregon student, Christo has designed one of the nation's first assessment tools of the emerging "Complete Streets" concept. He has traveled across the country (MD, VA, and MN) leading community assessment workshops using this Complete Streets tool that works within a mobile GIS environment. Christo co-authored a paper for the 2009 TRB national conference and has presented his work at the national Pro Bike / Pro Walk conference. He has been asked by leaders in two Oregon state agencies to describe and share his work with smaller Oregon communities and is a founding member and director of a campuswide, interdisciplinary transportation and livability student group at the University of Oregon called LiveMove. During this time, Christo has worked with Dr. Marc Schlossberg and has been a truly exceptional student researcher and leader. Congratulations Christo!
The Initiative for Bicycle & Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI) has published it’s 2007-2008 Annual Report. IBPI is an exciting new center for research and learning that is focused on bicycle and pedestrian travel. IBPIís goal is to advance bicycling and walking as integral elements of the transportation system in Oregonís communities. It’s programs include research, education, and information-sharing across sectors, interests, and institutions that will enhance policies, programs, and projects focused on promoting bicycle and pedestrian transportation. Portland State Universityís Center for Transportation Studies houses IBPI. The initiative also draws on the resources of its partner institutions at the University of Oregon and Oregon State University and is funded by OTREC and PSU.