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

Evaluation of Different Curb Extension Treatments for Pedestrian Comfort and Safety at Intersections

Nathan McNeil Sirisha Kothuri
In a project funded by the The District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Portland State University is partnering with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to document and identify factors associated with road user safety and comfort at intersections with permanent versus tactical (both with and without mural art) curb extensions, as well as a set of control locations with no curb extensions. DDOT has over the last few years installed several curb extension treatments on different… Read More

Bridge Pile Foundations Subjected to Liquefaction-Induced Lateral Spreading

Arash Khosravifar
The overall goal of this research is to improve the seismic safety and resiliency of highway bridges in the Pacific Northwest during earthquakes. Past earthquakes have shown that liquefaction-induced lateral spreading can be a major cause of collapse for pile foundations. Bridge engineers generally agree that pile foundations must be designed for: (a) lateral spreading loads caused by liquefaction of soils adjacent to piles, and (b) inertial loads during shaking resulting from the… Read More