Transportation research is often about numbers. In a recent study, however, U of M researchers looked beyond the data to hear the transportation experiences of real people from underserved communities in Minnesota.
Continue reading Personal Stories Illustrate Transportation Inequities in MinnesotaCategory Archives: Public Transit
Multimodal trip planner to make travel easier in Greater Minnesota, rural areas
Reprinted from Catalyst, May 9, 2023
When a person wants to take a trip across the country, they can choose from a variety of travel planning apps to help make that happen. But what if the trip they want to take is from Mankato to New Ulm, or within their own community, using non-personal transportation?
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has launched a pilot project to bring trip planning and payment technology for daily trips to areas less dense than urban settings.
Residents and visitors in southern and western Minnesota now have the ability to plan for and, in some cases, pay for public transit and intercity bus trips using the Transit app. Travel and route information for these agencies went live within Transit on March 1.
Transit, a free app available for download in Google Play or the Apple App Store, is used in more than 300 cities around the world. It allows users to see route and travel options for public transit and connecting services. Select agencies also have in-app ticketing, allowing riders to pay for fares electronically and then show their device to transit drivers to ride.
“This pilot with the Transit app focuses on rural areas because this technology has not yet been made available outside of Minnesota’s big cities,” says Elliott McFadden, MnDOT’s Greater Minnesota Shared Mobility Program coordinator. “The project will be the first to bring the latest technology to make it easier to plan and take trips in many communities in Greater Minnesota.”
The pilot will run through April 2024 and is funded by two innovation grants from the Federal Transit Administration at a cost of $1.9 million.
U of M researchers led by Alireza Khani will evaluate the project to help determine whether this technology should be scaled to the rest of the state. Focusing on southern Minnesota, the research team will work closely with MnDOT’s project management team and the platform development team to study these questions:
- How do residents of the region benefit from having access to a variety of mobility options through an integrated platform?
- To what extent does the platform help increase transit ridership and reduce personal vehicle use?
- How can the features of the platform—such as route planning or pricing—be optimized for greater system efficiency and benefits for all residents?
“Our goal is to provide the data and analysis policymakers need to make the most effective transit investments,” says Khani, an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering.
(Adapted from a MnDOT press release, March 1, 2023.)
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Short Films, Big Visions: Transportation-themed films spark conversation about community connections
April 4, 2023
Dozens of community members and transportation advocates tuned in to “Short Films, Big Visions: A Series on Transportation and Community” on February 23. Co-hosted by CTS and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the virtual event featured a screening of short films produced by the Redford Center for its “Community Power” series followed by an engaging panel discussion.
Continue reading Short Films, Big Visions: Transportation-themed films spark conversation about community connections
Surge pricing for rides influences customer evaluation of driver performance
April 13, 2023
Surge pricing in rideshare apps leads to more complaints from customers, which ultimately eats away at drivers’ incomes, according to new U of M research.
Continue reading Surge pricing for rides influences customer evaluation of driver performance
COVID’s Effects on Public Transportation Use and Perceptions
How has the pandemic affected downtown commuters’ travel behavior and perceptions of public transportation?
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a major toll on public transit ridership—raising questions for the future. Will people associate public transportation with health and safety risks and avoid using it? Will they see public transportation as a less desirable transportation alternative?
Continue reading COVID’s Effects on Public Transportation Use and Perceptions
Findings Lay Groundwork for Shared Mobility Transit in Rural Minnesota
Originally published in Catalyst, February 13, 2023.
Public transit services are vital for community health and connectivity, yet the transit solutions found in urban areas—such as frequent bus service and light rail—don’t exist in rural areas. As a result, mobility may be limited in rural communities because of the high costs and low availability of affordable, reliable transportation options.
Continue reading Findings Lay Groundwork for Shared Mobility Transit in Rural Minnesota
Automated Vehicles Could Increase Accessibility for Twin Cities East Metro
This article was originally published in Catalyst, August 2022.
Connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology is moving forward, with three pilot shuttle projects on tap in Minnesota this year alone. Rapid developments are leaving little time for planners and policymakers to prepare for the mainstreaming of technology and the evolution of the current transportation system—all while ensuring that transportation equity has a seat in the vehicle.
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Property Values Remain Stable after Opening of Twin Cities Bus Rapid Transit Line
This article was originally published in Catalyst, January 2022.
Arterial bus rapid transit (BRT) has gained momentum in the Twin Cities as a less-expensive alternative to light-rail transit. However, this expansion of BRT has also raised concerns that the new lines will spur an increase in housing values and neighborhood gentrification, potentially displacing low-income residents. A new study eases these concerns: It found that the A Line BRT route encouraged ridership but had no effect on housing values.
Continue reading Property Values Remain Stable after Opening of Twin Cities Bus Rapid Transit Line
Researchers Study Impact of Transitways on Nearby Roads, Park-and-Ride Choices
This article was originally published in Catalyst, November 2021.
How does a transitway affect automobile traffic on nearby roadways? What factors influence which park-and-ride facilities people choose? These two questions were the focus of a recent two-part project by U of M researchers.
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U Students Offer Ideas For Transit Changes in Carver County
This article was originally published in Catalyst, August 2021.
The transit needs of Carver County, Minnesota, are undergoing a shift driven by changes in population size and demographics. Student researchers from the U of M teamed up with county planners to identify and address these changing needs.
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