Research News

Cost-Effective, Real-Time Visibility Detection System Based on Internet of Things and Computer Vision Technologies

Roadway safety can be significantly improved with the real-time collection of data on traffic, roadway surface, and environmental conditions and the efficient broadcasting of that information to road users. This project tested a mobile sensing unit and visibility detection system that would collect real-time traffic and environmental data to aid in object detection and tracking.

Operations Performance Management Primer: From Performance Measures to Performance Management

With increased public scrutiny of transportation agency actions and limited funding, effective resource allocation is imperative. One tool to help departments of transportation make sound investment decisions, particularly for transportation systems management and operations, is the practice of operations performance measures and management (OPMM). This project developed a primer to introduce transportation practitioners to the principles and practices of OPMM.

Real-Time Truck Parking Information Integration, Visualization, and Prediction

Truck parking facilities are struggling to meet the increasing demand of freight vehicles on the road. Lack of parking spaces and real-time information about parking availability greatly exacerbates trip uncertainty and often results in illegal parking and overtime driving. In response, this project worked to improve a system to provide information about real-time and predicted truck parking space availability to freight truck drivers.

Assessing and Improving the Application of Multimodal Performance Measures in WSDOT Projects

This study assessed the application of multimodal performance measures and indicators in the design process of the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The report presents lessons learned from the literature and multimodal practice leaders. The project also examined six WSDOT multimodal case studies, including evaluating how those projects have integrated best practices for multimodal planning and performance measurement, as well as opportunities for improvement.

Assessment of Electric Utility Capacity to Deliver Electricity for Electric Aviation at Paine Field and Grant County International Airport

When electric aircraft become more widely used, will regional airports in Washington state have the electrical capacity to support them? This study developed a method to estimate the plausible future energy and power demands of electric aircraft operating at regional airports in Washington to determine whether the electricity grid near those airports will have the capacity to serve the aircrafts’ energy needs over the next one to two decades.

Analysis of Changing Transit Travel Behavior as a Result of the Opening of the U-District, Roosevelt, and Northgate Link Stations

On October 2, 2021, Sound Transit of the Puget Sound, Washington, began Link light rail service to three new stations on the 1 Line. These stations serve the University District, Roosevelt, and Northgate areas in Seattle. This project examined the changes in regional travel behavior that occurred as a result of those changes in transit service.

RAP Reset – Responsibly Optimizing Recycled Materials Use in Asphalt Concrete and Pavement Performance Life

Concerns with the durability and performance of asphalt concrete that contains recycled materials have recently become the focal point of the asphalt industry. The goal of this research was to improve the performance of asphalt concrete pavements that contain recycled materials in Washington state.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory from Construction of WSDOT Roadways

Recent emphasis on actions to reduce large-scale greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has pushed most state departments of transportation to develop strategies to mitigate the adverse environmental impacts of the materials that they utilize. To assist WSDOT, researchers at the UW Carbon Leadership Forum assessed and analyzed the GHG emissions of WSDOT’s current material practices and explored opportunities to decrease them.

ORCA Data for Planning

A large portion of all transit rides in the greater Puget Sound region are paid for with the One Regional Card for All (ORCA) electric transit fare card. TRAC researchers have developed a business intelligence system that takes advantage of data from the ORCA system to allow transit agencies to analyze farecard transactions and better understand transit travel.

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Design and Testing of Modular Expansion Joint Noise Mitigation Strategies

While expansion joints are a necessary component of bridges, they also contribute to noise pollution. This study investigated the design and feasibility of strategies to mitigate noise caused by modular expansion joints on Washington state’s Evergreen Point Floating Bridge (SR 520 bridge) over Lake Washington.