Reliable traffic data helps transportation agencies understand how vehicles move through intersections, identify operational needs, assess potential mobile source emissions impacts and make informed decisions about future improvements. Collecting that information, however, can require equipment that is costly, difficult to maintain or limited in how long it can remain in the field.
by Eric Nava Near-real-time traffic information is no longer communicated exclusively through traditional news outlets or transportation agency channels. Instead, it is increasingly shared through community-driven social media platforms that have become part of how residents stay informed about roadway conditions, crashes and daily traffic disruptions.
by David Galicia Reliable public transportation is essential to connecting people with jobs, education, health care and other critical services. In the El Paso Borderplex, that challenge extends across multiple transit providers, jurisdictions and travel patterns shaped by both regional and cross-border movement.
by Alejandro Berlanga For many border communities, crossing on foot is part of daily life. Commuters, students and shoppers move through pedestrian facilities at land ports of entry every day, often navigating long and unpredictable wait times along the way. Yet compared to vehicle crossings, pedestrian movement remains far less understood.
by Okan Gurbuz For many travelers, a delay at the border is measured in minutes. For others — including manufacturers waiting on parts, commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) moving time-sensitive goods or communities dependent on cross-border trade — those same delays carry a much higher cost.
by Erik Vargas, Swapnil Samant and Rafael Aldrete For anyone who regularly crosses the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, “wait time” is not a single experience. A trusted traveler using a dedicated lane may be through the port in minutes, while a driver in a standard lane could be waiting an hour or more, especially…
by Valeria Martinez, Swapnil Samant and Rafael Aldrete High-speed vehicle pursuits are among the most dangerous situations faced by law enforcement and the public. Each year, these chases result in crashes, injuries and, in too many cases, fatalities. In regions like El Paso, Texas, the frequency of such pursuits has increased sharply, raising concerns among…
by Erik Vargas and Okan Gurbuz
In its 2020 Texas Statewide Truck Parking Study, the Texas Department of Transportation noted that trucks carrying 1.2 billion tons of freight worth $1.7 trillion each year in the Lone Star State. That means 140,000 trucks must park somewhere in the state every day for drivers to rest and sleep. Noted in the study, truck volume is expected to grow by some 80 percent by 2040, making today’s shortage of truck parking facilities a crisis down the road.
by Jeff Shelton
When extreme events occur, the transportation network is vital to relief and recovery. For example, when a hurricane makes landfall, getting citizens to safety—particularly from low-lying areas at risk for flooding—is top priority. But once the heavy rain is falling, what routes should they take? Which roads are most likely to flood?
