Transportation

Transportation is an integral part of a region, impacting its form and function—and the everyday lives of its residents. Faculty in the School of Urban Studies and Planning are involved in a range of transportation-related research. Our research can lead to better transportation planning and systems for this region and beyond.

Jim Strathman has looked at various facets of transit operations, travel behavior, safety, and freight operations. He used Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and automated passenger count data from Portland's transit system to help identify causes for delays, improve bus operations, and reduce operating costs. Strathman has also looked at ways to improve the effectiveness of truck weight enforcement.

Anthony Rufolo focuses on finance issues, including Oregon's unique truck axel-weight-distance taxes. He, along with Robert Bertini in Civil and Environmental Engineering, are investigating options to the gas tax, including how to collect fees based upon miles driven. Professor Rufolo is also evaluating fuel tax collection practices and evasion prevention.

Jennifer Dill is researching factors that influence decisions to walk and bicycle, including street connectivity and New Urbanist neighborhood designs. She is also evaluating impacts of changes to the State's vehicle trip permit system, related to emissions inspection programs. She and Connie Ozawa are evaluating the results of Oregon's attempts to streamline the environmental review process for major transportation projects.

Connie Ozawa looks at how transportation agencies, including the Oregon Department of Transportation and Portland's Metro, employ collaborative planning processes and mediation. She and Charles Heying are also evaluating the results of Oregon pilot projects funded through the Transportation Community System Preservation program.

Sy Adler has examined how Oregon has implemented its unique Transportation Planning Rule (TPR), which mandates reductions in per capita vehicle miles of travel in metropolitan areas. He is now working on an historical study of the evolution of transportation planning practice and the relationships between transportation and land use planners. Professors Adler and Dill are now collaborating on a study of the evolution and impacts of the TPR.

Robert Bertini is developing a research program, laboratory, and graduate curriculum in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). As director of the campus wide Center for Transportation Studies, his research focuses on the integration of new technologies and is benefiting from collaborations with other disciplines such as urban planning and electrical engineering/computer science and partnerships with local, regional, state, federal, and international transportation organizations. Bertini's research interests include: new data sources, sensor technology, data analysis, data fusion; traffic flow theory and macroscopic modeling; performance measures and evaluation of transportation systems, programs and policies; safety data analysis and improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists; multimodal traveler information, routing and control; and sustainability through new mobility services and alternative fuels.

Kenneth Dueker (emeritus) is a leader in research that integrates transportation with Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Other research interests include transit operations and regional modelling.

Most of the transportation-related research at PSU is conducted within the Center for Urban Studies and the Center for Transportation Studies.

Want to learn more about transportation?

As a student, there are many opportunities at PSU to study transportation. Transportation is a specialization within the Masters of Urban and Regional Planning and Civil & Environmental Engineering programs. Transportation can also be a focus of your PhD studies. Later this year, we will also be launching a graduate certificate in transportation.

If you're not ready for a degree or certificate yet, you can take a PSU class via "quick entry" as a graduate or undergraduate student. SUSP courses are described here. Current PSU course schedules are here.

During the academic year, we sponsor a Transportation Seminar, featuring a different speaker each week. The public is invited to attend any or all of the sessions in person or via the web. You can also watch past seminars on the web. Use this link to see the schedule and link to the webcasts.