News

The Right Tools for the Job: Predictive Planning for Transportation Infrastructure Can Save Lives

January 25, 2023

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? After how many inches of rainfall do we begin diverting traffic from Main Road A because it’s likely to flood in the next hour?
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Keeping Ahead of the Curve: Mitigating Extreme Traffic Events with Advanced Technology

November 10, 2022

by Rafael Aldrete and Swapnil Samant

Transportation agencies are charged with the formidable task of keeping people and goods moving efficiently, reliably and safely. Sometimes, that’s not easy. When bad weather hits, for example, a transportation management agency’s limited resources and personnel are stretched thin by mass movements of cars and trucks stressing the local network.

Inviting Border Transit Agencies into the Capacity, QoS Conversation

April 5, 2022

by David Galicia

Transit agencies across the nation reference the Transit Capacity and Quality-of-Service Manual (TCQSM). Now in its third edition, the TCQSM gives guidance on transit capacity and quality-of-service (QoS) issues, as well as techniques for measuring operational characteristics.

Piloting LiDAR Sensors to Enhance Border Traffic Information

April 1, 2022

by Jason Wu

The El Paso/Ciudad Juárez region is one of the world’s largest binational border metropolises. Multiple border crossings with heavy traffic (like this region has) can cause logistical challenges for transportation agencies. Secure, efficient technology solutions — including those that leverage the benefits of intelligent transportation systems — can help agencies while helping to guide traffic safely through the border.

Applying AI, Drones and Satellites to Improve Border Transportation

March 14, 2022

by Alejandro Berlanga Alzaga and Valeria Martinez

When you think of drones, you may think of a package getting delivered to your doorstep. Many companies conduct flight missions of drones for delivering goods, but other applications for drones can benefit the public (and commercial vehicle drivers) in another way — travel across the border.

Balancing COVID Concerns with Economic Need: Reduced Mobility, Vaccination Are Key to Halting the (or Any) Pandemic

August 11, 2021

by Okan Gurbuz

Restricting travel has proven vital to stemming the tide of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially early on. Less human contact in tight spaces means less exposure to the virus—that’s a given. But reduced contact also means reduced commerce, at least for businesses depending on in-person customers.

Contact Tracing to Minimize Infection, Maximize Mobility at the U.S.-Mexico Border

July 30, 2021

by Okan Gurbuz

With the recent introduction of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus, opening the world back up to regular commerce and human interaction has once again become problematic. Although global vaccine distribution continues at a healthy pace, how quickly mask mandates are lifted and businesses are open continue to be regulated at the local level in the United States. This lack of a central controlling authority — and the reliable regulation of interactions such direction would facilitate — further complicate getting the COVID-19 pandemic under control.

Return on Investment: Transportation Projects Can More than Pay for Themselves in Benefits

February 23, 2021

by Brianne Glover

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.

Anticipating USMCA Impacts on Energy Trade and Border Crossing Logistics

January 20, 2021

by Bahar Dadashova

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.

Understanding Transportation as a Disease Vector at the U.S.-Mexico Border

December 11, 2020

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.