THE CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN

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2 CTR Mission Support the academic program of The University of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering by: Providing a professional research environment for students and faculty Developing knowledge and innovative technology in transportation Serving the public by improving safety and transportation system effectiveness

3 CTR Statistical Summary Projects: 100+ Personnel: Contracts 125 graduate researchers 45 undergraduate researchers 70 professionals $16.2 million for FY 10-11

4 Research Staff Faculty Researchers (70 people) from: Engineering: ME, ECE, ChE, and CE Six Colleges/Schools: Engineering, Business, Architecture, Natural Sciences, LBJ, Communications Graduate Researchers, GRA s ( people) Non-Faculty Researchers (11 people)

5 Major Sponsors Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) University Transportation Centers Program (SWUTC, consortium with Texas A&M and Texas Southern University Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) TRB, NCHRP, TCRP Other public and private Agencies City of Austin Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO s) Department of Homeland Security Capital Metro Transportation Authority

6 Affiliated Research Centers/Programs Center for Electro-mechanics Ferguson Laboratories Center for Research in Water Resources Mechanical Engineering Combustion Laboratory International Center for Aggregates Research Community and Regional Planning, Architecture School LBJ School of Public Affairs

7 Ferguson Structural Engineering Lab

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9 LBJ School of Public Affairs

10 Core Research Areas Traditional Civil Engineering Topics Pavement design and performance Structures (bridges, guideways, barriers) Materials (aggregate, asphalt, Portland Cement, polymers) Environmental issues including water and air Non-traditional Civil Engineering Topics Economics/econometrics Human behavioral modeling Human factors Software Applications including GIS

11 Recent Research Initiatives Border Transportation Issues Congestion reduction/management Construction expediting Tolling Trucks and cargo movements Extending pavement system life Fostering non-auto transportation Bicycle facilities Driver-safety related issues

12 Prototype Border Crossing Exit Exit Vehicle safety Return Return Visual safety inspection, transponder Exit Bypass Driver Primary Weight

13 Homeland Security

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15 Proposed Trans-Texas Corridor Rail Component

16 Traffic Congestion SR 91 Express Lanes in Median

17 1999 Emissions Inventory for NOx Non-Road Mobile Sources 18% Area Sources 4% Point Sources 26% On-Road Mobile Sources 38% Biogenic Sources 14%

18 Dallas High Five, Construction Management

19 Toll Road Planning, Operation, Management

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21 Network Modeling Center NMC Mission: Further the state-of-the-art and state-of-thepractice in transportation network models 21

22 Focus on dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) Focus on Central Texas Funding primarily from TxDOT and CAMPO with smaller contracts with Williamson County and City of Austin Fostering close relationship with CAMPO modeling staff 22

23 Current DTA Applications Ongoing State Highway 45 SW Analysis of CAMPO Activity Center travel Developing methods to estimate diversion due to work zones Previous Williamson County SH 45/620 improvements MoPac Managed Lanes City of Austin 7 th /8 th Streets DTA is most useful when 1) performance not constant over time, 2) want to observe route switching, and 3) local effects are important 23

24 Pushing the state-of-the-art and state-of-practice in network modeling Become a hub for modeling knowledge and data in the region Expand geographical focus to Texas and beyond Continue close relationship with CAMPO modeling staff Train practitioners to use NMC-developed tools 24

25 Commuter Rail in Dallas Union Station

26 Bicycle Transportation Facilities Control Device Study for City of Austin

27 Driver Behavior

28 Future Research

29 Energy Cost and Availability CPI in 1960 = 30 Gasoline = $0.30/gallon CPI in 2012 = 229 Based on CPI Gasoline should be = $2.00/gallon Actual Average price in US = $4.00/gallon

30 Images from the Past

31 Implications of Fuel Costs Travel behavior...urban form??? Mode choice...car ownership, public transport??? Vehicle technology..plug in electrics??? Infrastructure..funding..maintenance and renewal?

32 Technology Transfer CTR Library Student Staff

33 TxDOT/CTR Library Serves: Texas Department of Transportation CTR Researchers Students Public

34 3208 Red River Austin, TX (512)