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

Washington State Pedestrian and Bicycle Miles Traveled Project

Krista Nordback
Estimates of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) drive policy and planning decisions for surface transportation. No similar metric is computed for cycling and walking. What approaches could be used to compute such a metric on the state level? This report discusses three such approaches, identifies the advantages and disadvantages of each, and applies them to Washington State. The first approach employs travel survey data. The second approach is sample-based using pedestrian and bicycle count data. The… Read More

The Contribution of Transportation and Land Use to Citizen Perceptions of Livability in Oregon MPOs

Rebecca Lewis Robert Parker
Livability is a key focus of integrating transportation and land use planning throughout the United States, and the world. Livability is a concept that has been guiding U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) policy since 2009, focusing on six principles including: providing transportation choices, expanding housing location, improving economic competitiveness, improving existing communities, aligning federal policy, and enhancing unique characteristics of communities (USDOT, n.d.). In Oregon… Read More