by Sushant Sharma and David Galicia
When a major event attracts tens of thousands of visitors to a community, the transportation network is sometimes negatively impacted near that event. The ripple effect can often be felt across the entire transportation system. We and other researchers with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research (CIITR) had a unique opportunity to study one of the biggest and historical events in the Paso Del Norte Region — the Pope’s visit to Ciudad Juarez area in April.
[Read more…] about Pope Visit Creates Few Traffic Problems: No Miracle, Just Good Planning
News
Counting Cars at the Border? Not As Simple As You Might Think
by Dan Middleton
Finally, after years of searching and testing, the Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research (CIITR) may have found a device that reliably counts the thousands of passenger and commercial vehicles crossing the border between Mexico and Texas each day. Full-scale testing on the product is underway now at the Zaragoza Bridge border crossing in El Paso, and we should know soon if it’s what we’ve been looking for.
[Read more…] about Counting Cars at the Border? Not As Simple As You Might Think
The Right Modeling Tool for the Right Simulation Job: Arming Agencies with Accurate Information to Improve Border-Crossing Wait Times
by David Salgado Manzano and Jeff Shelton
If you spend much time along the border, especially during peak crossing times, you can find yourself waiting for hours to get through a checkpoint. And while improved trade between the U.S. and Mexico is a good thing, one down side is that the increased traffic is adding to the problem.
[Read more…] about The Right Modeling Tool for the Right Simulation Job: Arming Agencies with Accurate Information to Improve Border-Crossing Wait Times
Can Reducing Border Wait Times Benefit El Paso? Researching the Value of Public-Private Partnerships with U.S. Customs
by Arturo Bujanda and Bob Trotter
Border wait times (BWTs) have gotten longer in the past decade or so. Between increased trade (a good thing) resulting from expanding agreements between the United States and Mexico and enhanced security following 9/11 (a necessary thing), it’s understandable. But time is money when you’re idling at the border, and reducing wait times without compromising security isn’t easy with today’s federal budget constraints.
[Read more…] about Can Reducing Border Wait Times Benefit El Paso? Researching the Value of Public-Private Partnerships with U.S. Customs
Thinking Outside the Box? How about a New Way to Measure the Box
By 2030, the Office of the State Demographer predicts Texas will support a population of 33.9 million. That’s up from 25.2 million in 2010—about a 35 percent increase. That means that, for every three people we have in the state today, we’ll have four tomorrow. And they’ll all be trying to use the same transportation system.
[Read more…] about Thinking Outside the Box? How about a New Way to Measure the Box
Making a Difference in the El Paso Region: Arming Young Drivers with Information Can Save Their Lives
by Lupe Ramos
The Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research (CIITR) does more than simply conduct research in the El Paso region. We also look for ways, through our research and outreach, to improve the lives of everyone transportation touches, especially in our own home town.
[Read more…] about Making a Difference in the El Paso Region: Arming Young Drivers with Information Can Save Their Lives
How, When, and Where: Three Important Questions for Maintaining Healthy U.S.-Mexico Trade
by Geza Pesti
How goods are getting to and from Mexican manufacturers to American markets—and vice versa—is important to know. Are they traveling by truck or rail? Are they experiencing shipping delays (often passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices)? Are they rising or falling in frequency, value, and volume?
[Read more…] about How, When, and Where: Three Important Questions for Maintaining Healthy U.S.-Mexico Trade
Saving Space by Sharing Space
by Alex Valdez
For years, “adding capacity” to meet the growing demands of commuters on urban roadways equated to “adding lanes.” But now, construction costs and the expenses associated with securing right-of-way to build more lanes have exceeded our ability to pay for them. “Doing more with what we have” is the goal of most traffic management agencies these days. [Read more…] about Saving Space by Sharing Space
Climate Trends and Transportation
Climate change is happening. Rising global average temperatures have been documented beyond a reasonable scientific doubt. And those same rigorous empirical standards are predicting this trend will continue. [Read more…] about Climate Trends and Transportation
Reducing the Domino Effect at LPOEs
Travelers at the U.S.-Mexico border are experiencing longer and longer wait times. While NAFTA has proven economically advantageous for both countries—partly by encouraging tourism and trade in border towns—one negative consequence of increased economic activity has been longer lines at land ports of entry (LPOEs). The demand to cross from one country to the other usually exceeds a port’s capacity to efficiently process that traffic. This is particularly true in highly populated, bi-national regions such as El Paso-Ciudad Juarez. [Read more…] about Reducing the Domino Effect at LPOEs