Originally published in Catalyst, February 19, 2025
Transit service planning has traditionally focused on peak trips and the needs of “rush hour” commuters rather than off-peak travel. Often, off-peak trips are taken by shift-based essential workers and those who cannot or do not drive. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored the need for a closer examination of these trips to improve social equity.
Continue reading Examining off-peak transit behaviors to improve transit equityReprinted from CTS News, February 11, 2025
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) transit planning apps provide a simple, convenient way for transit users to plan trips, make payments, and book on-demand rides—enhancing the user experience and encouraging more transit use. While prevalent in urban areas, these apps are uncommon in rural settings.
Continue reading In rural Minnesota, transit planning apps could boost ridershipAs hauling practices change for waste collection, mining and other industries, local transportation agencies are receiving more permit requests for oversize or overweight trucks. These larger vehicles can have significantly greater impacts on pavements than passenger vehicles.
Continue reading New Project: Best Practice for Oversized/Overweight VehiclesTrucks account for over one-third of transportation sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. MnDOT strives to identify guidance for the freight community to reduce its vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Allowing larger or heavier trucks could allow more freight to be moved per vehicle, thus reducing VMT.
Continue reading New Project: Analyzing Truck Size and Weight Impacts on Vehicle Miles TraveledMinnesota agencies are evaluating how to meet the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) target of at least 50% by 2030. Numerous technical, social and coordination considerations are inherent in a transition to electric fleets.
Continue reading New Project: Transitioning to EV Fleets: Best Practices and a Decision ToolLocal transportation agencies in Minnesota continue to face worker shortages as many struggle to hire and retain employees. Recognizing this challenge, the Minnesota Local Road Research Board partnered with Minnesota LTAP to develop marketing resources for local transportation agencies to use to recruit and retain roadway maintenance workers.
Continue reading Staffing up: Resources to Grow Your Roadway Maintenance WorkforceHistorically, transportation projects have had a disproportionately negative effect on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) and low-income communities. Today, state departments of transportation (DOTs) may be able to mitigate these negative effects by reaching out to these communities and incorporating their ideas and feedback into transportation planning. Local artists and culture bearers could serve as ambassadors for these communities by participating in the transportation planning process based on their creative placemaking ideas and connection to the community.
Continue reading Social Outcomes Improve by Incorporating Arts and Culture into Transportation PlanningAutonomous vehicles (AVs) have infrastructure requirements such as lane lines, centerlines and intersection signs to guide camera-enabled steering control functions. But many rural roads do not have lane markings or are unpaved, and intersections might be missing components to guide AVs.
Continue reading New Project: Use of MNCORS to Support AV Operations in Rural MinnesotaIncreasing active transportation is an ongoing effort for transportation planners. Biking and walking can help decrease auto dependence, air pollution, and climate change and improve public health. Plus, it can help transportation agencies meet their strategic goals. The challenge? Making good decisions requires good data, and data for walking and biking trips can be hard to find.
Continue reading Crowdsourcing meets transportation planning with bike and pedestrian data countsResearch done here at Minnesota and elsewhere has done much to define the problems of local communities with missing or declining infrastructure. USDOT offers federal assistance to build and improve that infrastructure, but the grants have to be won.
Continue reading Applying for Grants: Use Data to Tell Your Community’s Story to USDOT
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