Category Archives: Policy and Planning

Policy and Planning, Public Transit, Research

COVID-19 pandemic substantially changed commuting patterns, job access

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Reprinted from CTS News, October 9, 2023

Patterns of movement in cities, especially office job commutes, were substantially altered in 2021 by telework, economic change, and other responses to COVID-19, according to new research from the Accessibility Observatory at the University of Minnesota. While the immediate effects of these behavioral changes, such as reduced congestion and lower transit ridership, have been well documented, new data reveals deeper impacts that differ by the three modes studied: auto, transit, and biking.

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Policy and Planning

Maximizing Equity in Managed Lane Planning

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Managed lanes provide transportation agencies with a strategy for reducing congestion and improving travel times along urban highways. A common perception is that the benefits of managed lanes are greater for higher-income people than for those with lower incomes, often from underrepresented communities. New research illustrates the diversity of managed lane users and provides new metrics and recommendations to factor equity into the highway project planning process.

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Multi-modal, Policy and Planning

On the Road to Somewhere

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Measuring access to opportunities is the future math of mobility.

In December 2022, Twin Cities policymakers and planners celebrated the opening of the D Line, the latest bus rapid transit project by Metro Transit. The new line strengthened the spine of service running north-south through the urbanized core of the region: from Brooklyn Center, following Minneapolis’ long axis to the south, through the gridded suburbs of Richfield and Bloomington all the way to the Mall of America. Largely replacing Minnesota’s single busiest bus route (Route 5), the D Line features expanded high-frequency hours, higher-capacity vehicles, and improved trip speeds. The D Line represents the best of local transit service, an undoubtable improvement for the mobility of transit riders. 

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Freight and Railroads, Policy and Planning, Research

Researchers Identify Freight Data Sources, Create Guidance to Aid Infrastructure Planning

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The goods that continuously move through Minnesota by road, rail, air, water, and pipelines drive the state’s economy, making efficient freight transit—and excellent freight infrastructure—a high priority for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).

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Automated Vehicle Technology, Policy and Planning, Research

Preparing for the Future of CAVs: Cybersecurity, Winter Weather Research

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Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) hold promise for improving transportation operations—but could also provide pathways for “malicious actors” to compromise vehicle security, said Rafael Stern, a U of M assistant professor, in a recent CTS webinar.

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Policy and Planning

Evaluating Metrics and Performance to Advance Transportation Equity

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Ensuring Minnesota’s transportation network does not create barriers or hardships for underserved or underrepresented communities is imperative. But knowing if the agency is planning and administering programs or projects equitably can be challenging to assess. New research suggests improved performance measures and strategies to support agency efforts to advance equity across the agency’s responsibilities. 

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Policy and Planning

The Role of Gender and Identity in Travel Behavior

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Ensuring the transportation system is accessible and welcoming to all demographics requires understanding how different genders interact with the transportation system. Insight gained from a new project into the impacts of gender and other identities on travel needs, challenges and experiences will aid MnDOT in advancing transportation equity.

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