Roads, bridges, bike lanes and other transportation infrastructure are not free. Even so, enhancing our transportation system with projects like these can save significant dollars in the long run. As a transportation economist, calculating the cost benefits of a proposed project is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job.
News
Anticipating USMCA Impacts on Energy Trade and Border Crossing Logistics
The impact of the recent United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on the energy trade between the United States and Mexico—especially as it relates to transportation and logistics at border crossings—has not yet been fully measured. With so much at stake, understanding the potential impacts of this new agreement is crucial to both countries’ economies.
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New Report: Evaluation of Ambulance Cross Border Operations
Cross-border travel across the U.S.-Mexican border often experiences delays due to international security and customs concerns. However, medical emergencies require expedited travel through land ports of entry to save patients. Researchers examined potential strategies to expedite patient transfers and held a workshop to solicit input from stakeholders on the strategies.
New Report: Free and Secure Trade with Enhanced Reliability (FASTER)
Researcher identified traffic management strategies to improve crossing time reliability at commercial land ports of entry (LPOEs). They also successfully evaluated the strategies using two scenarios–an appointment scenario and a demand spreading scenario–using a microscopic traffic simulation model that the researchers developed for the Ysleta Zaragoza LPOE.
Understanding Transportation as a Disease Vector at the U.S.-Mexico Border
by Okan Gurbuz
In the past year, the world has undergone an immense transformation in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19. Complete lockdowns and curfews have been enacted and then lifted to balance mitigating the spread of the disease with keeping economies working. Although a lot is still unknown about COVID-19, one thing is certain: transportation is one way the disease is spread from place to place.
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New Report: Cross-Border Transportation as a Disease Vector in COVID-19
Understanding the relationship between cross-border transportation and the spread of infectious diseases is vitally important to mitigating the spread of future waves of COVID-19 or other pandemics. This study clearly shows the significant effect border crossings have regarding the spread of infectious diseases in their surrounding communities.
New Report: Potential Implications of USMCA on Energy and Transportation Sectors: Phase I
This research assessed the implications of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) on energy trade between the United States and Mexico, as well as cross-border movements. Phase 1 presents a literature review to assess policy changes that could impact the energy trade between the two countries, collected the relevant data and developed a framework for scenario planning.
New Report: Border Cross, Park, and Ride
This report presents findings of a study examining the park, cross, and ride parking behavior. Before this study, no research had been performed to evaluate the cost and the benefits. This study does so with a cost-benefit analysis examining different scenarios.
How Do You Know Whether a Parking Facility Is Doing Its Job?
by Okan Gurbuz
When commuting patterns change (as they have amid the COVID-19 pandemic), so do the patterns of land use. With fewer people driving to work or to school, fewer parking spaces are filled, leaving empty reminders of our hefty public and private investment in vehicle storage space. As with any infrastructure asset requiring a large financial outlay, it’s important that we ensure the best return on that investment.
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New Report: Accuracy of Probe-Based Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) Estimates in Border Regions
This report looks at using passively collected data as an economical means for agencies to accurately estimate traffic volume data. Researchers examined the accuracy of probe-based annual average daily traffic (AADT) estimates in two study areas: (a) at Texas-Mexico border crossings, and (b) on counted Texas roadways that are in proximity to the Mexican borders.