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This project will improve I-35 in Waco from 12th Street to North Loop 340 by improving safety and mobility, adding capacity, incorporating technology, and enhancing aesthetics. Improvements include widening main lanes to four lanes in each direction, improving frontage roads and ramps, reconstructing bridges, improving interchanges, adding U-turns, and improving bicycle and pedestrian access. The […]

A common sight on Texas roadways is noise walls and retaining walls. Noise walls, or barriers, are helpful in keeping the sound of a busy highway out of neighborhoods and business districts. Retaining walls reduce the need for a sloped area at grade changes and are used extensively for highway overpasses. Noise walls and retaining […]

The I-35 Waco Project is officially complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Nov. 9. The $341 million project finished on budget and ahead of schedule, beating its originally estimated end date by approximately 18 months. The I-35 Waco Project is part of the larger My35 Waco District Construction Plan, begun in 2012, comprised of 17 […]

The ribbon cutting celebrating the completion of the I-35 Waco Project on Nov. 9 had personal significance for Caroline Golden, who’s done some construction of her own as a result of the project. In 2019, when the project began, Golden was a senior at Baylor University in Waco. Thanks to innate talent, opportunity and a […]

TTI recently developed a Hazardous Materials and Train Derailment Emergency Planning Guide for School Districts and Community Colleges to help school district administrators, emergency managers, and safety officers plan for hazmat incident and train derailment emergencies. Hazardous materials are transported through almost every Texas community every day—by road, rail, pipeline, waterways, or air. Places where hazardous materials […]

During an emergency, seconds matter. However, navigating through busy urban arterials may sometimes be a tricky task for emergency response vehicles, particularly through busy intersections. In 2021, of the 633,499 roadway crashes in Texas, nearly 37 percent occurred at intersections, emphasizing the importance of improving safety in these scenarios. An ongoing research project conducted by […]

The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the United States. With a population of over 7.5 million people — and growing — the area has rapidly become a desirable place for families and businesses to locate to over the last decade. Alongside the population and economic growth, traffic […]

Few scenarios are more terrifying for a motorist than encountering someone driving the wrong way on a freeway. When a crash occurs because of wrong-way driving (WWD), the results are often catastrophic. Such was the case on March 15, 2011, when San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) Officer Stephanie Brown was killed by an intoxicated WWD […]

If you watch police procedurals on television, you’ve probably seen an episode where traffic cameras play a pivotal role in solving the crime. Usually, an analyst zooms in to identify the perpetrator’s license plate, providing the clue needed to close the case. Using the big-picture power of video imaging can be just as helpful in […]

Since 2012, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has conducted the My35 Construction Project along I-35 in Central Texas. Called “Main Street Texas” for the vital role the corridor plays in international commerce, I-35 is host to hundreds of thousands of cars and trucks each day. Comprising 17 separate construction projects, the 96-mile stretch between […]

Roadway congestion continues to be a frustration for drivers across the nation. Delays and slowdowns caused by crashes, extreme weather or even road debris dramatically affect the reliability of the transportation system and can add grueling hours to commuter drive times. While congestion may seem unavoidable at times, the ability to track roadway incidents and […]

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) hosted two groups of campers June 23 and 30 from Texas A&M University’s Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering’s Camp BUILD. TTI Senior Research Engineer Melisa Finley and Associate Research Engineer Debbie Albert organized the sessions with support from Texas A&M students and volunteers. Campers watched a live […]

Seeing the road is an essential component of safe driving. Drivers depend on a continuous flow of information as they move along the roadway to properly position their vehicle. Centerline and edge-line markings delineate the vehicle lane for drivers, while other markings such as stop bars and railway crossings provide key safety information and alert […]

In theory, the best way to maximize traffic flow along busy urban streets is to coordinate the series of traffic signals that drivers encounter. In practice, that’s far easier said than done. But with the completion of recent research supported by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), traffic engineers are a big step closer to […]

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Visibility Research Laboratory and smart intersection explore how improvements in road markings, signals and equipment can keep road users safe.  Through the Eyes of the Visibility Research Laboratory Researchers in TTI’s Visibility Research Laboratory evaluate retroreflective materials, lights, coatings and other technologies designed to provide nighttime visibility. The lab […]

Roadway departure crashes make up a significant number of the crashes on Texas roadways each year. In 2016 alone, Texas roads experienced 61,973 roadway departure crashes, most of which occurred on two-way two-lane (TWTL) highways (92 percent). These numbers — especially in a state that just saw its second-deadliest year on record for road fatalities […]

The Transportation Research Board (TRB) recently appointed Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers and staff members as chairs and co-chairs on TRB committees and groups. These newly appointed chairs and co-chairs started their term April 15. Committee chairs may serve two consecutive three-year terms, and group chairs a three-year term. TRB staff make recommendations for […]

Hazardous materials (hazmat) travel daily by road, rail, pipeline, waterway and air through the Lone Star State. Most transport vehicles safely arrive with their cargo. It’s when things go wrong — such as a hazmat incident or train derailment near a school — that a well-informed, thorough safety plan can save student, teacher and staff […]

Getting accurate, continuous travel information can be difficult for binational metropolitan regions like El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. As a result, international cross-border trips often go underrepresented in travel demand and behavior analysis studies. This can be caused by a number of factors, including time and budget limits and boundary issues associated with […]

Managing high traffic at border crossings necessitates secure, efficient technologies. Sensors monitor vehicles entering and exiting the queue and relay that information to a traffic management center. While there are often limitations with video cameras and radar sensors, 3D light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors — such as those installed in self-driving cars — can […]

Transit agencies increasingly acknowledge social media’s value in providing customers a voice, boosting ridership and presenting new solutions to the public. To help codify best practices for transit agencies using social media, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers authored Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 156 — Uses of Social Media in Public Transportation: A […]

Getting accurate, continuous travel information can be difficult for binational metropolitan regions like El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. As a result, international cross-border trips often go underrepresented in travel demand and behavior analysis studies. This can be caused by a number of factors, including time and budget limits and boundary issues associated with international jurisdictions. […]

The Roadway Safety Foundation honored the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with a 2021 National Roadway Safety Award Oct. 6. The foundation lauded the TxDOT-sponsored, TTI-developed “Safer by Design” tool for use by roadway designers to assess the safety characteristics of rural highway design. Nearly 4,000 people died […]

With support from the Institute of Transportation Engineers’ (ITE’s) Arizona Section and Mountain District, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Senior Research Engineer Beverly Kuhn co-led an activity during The Boeing Company’s Sept. 22 STEM Day event as part of the 2021 American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference at the Phoenix Convention Center. […]

“Safer by Design” Tool Aims to Save Lives on Texas Rural Roadways The Roadway Safety Foundation has honored the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) with a 2021 National Roadway Safety Award. The foundation lauded the TxDOT-sponsored, TTI-developed “Safer by Design” tool, a user-friendly innovation roadway designers can use […]

John Habermann, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) research engineer, recently coauthored the article “The Contribution of State and Local DOTs to Disrupting Human Trafficking” in the June 2021 issue of the ITE Journal published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The publication reaches nearly 16,000 subscribers. The article defines human trafficking as the “recruitment, harboring, […]

Optimizing traffic flow is one goal of transportation agencies looking to improve mobility for transportation system users. Doing so reduces congestion, which not only optimizes roadway operations but also gets folks where they’re going faster while often improving safety. Managed lanes represent one method for achieving this, and many states have implemented them. Managed lanes […]

Finding safe parking is a constant concern for the nation’s hundreds of thousands of truck drivers. There are typically not enough parking spaces along their routes, and there is no real way for truckers to know in advance about parking availability. How big is the issue in Texas? According to the Texas Department of Transportation’s […]

In 2008, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) began its massive My35 Reconstruction Project to improve mobility and safety along 100 miles of I-35 in Central Texas. While most of the project is complete, Project 4B in Waco is currently underway, providing travelers improved traffic control, updated access roads and better interstate access locally. Since […]

MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE — that’s the old carpenter’s adage aimed at improving quality and reducing error. A new tool created by researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) can help engineers achieve similar efficiencies when designing roadways while saving lives and reducing injuries. Typically, roadway designs are largely dictated by engineering decisions driven […]

TTI Sheds a Light on Traffic Sign Reflectivity The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is offering parents and their homebound students a unique and inspiring lesson in the science behind how roadway objects like street signs and lane markings can be seen at night—a property called retroreflectivity. Aimed at 4th to 6th graders, the at-home […]

Connected-automated vehicles (CAVs) were once a figment of our imagination, something we only saw in science fiction movies; now, they’re becoming a reality. What exactly is CAV technology? CAVs leverage a combination of on- and off-vehicle sensors, cameras and other technologies to connect with other vehicles and infrastructure to help guide vehicles, improving public safety […]

Ensuring connected-automated vehicle technology benefits pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable road users is vital to transforming our transportation system in a way that meets the needs of all users. Aiming for zero traffic deaths by the mid-century mark, the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) Enhance Safety goal “promotes safe driving, bicycling and pedestrian activities.” TxDOT […]

Imagine yourself driving a truck along I-35 filled with perishable goods. You rely on your eyes to predict what you might encounter on the road ahead, though you can’t always see every hazard. Advanced transportation technologies can make the difference, noticing (and reacting to) things the human eye can’t. Mobility, safety, reliability, security — all […]

Visibility Research Laboratory TTI’s Visibility Research Laboratory supports research evaluating transportation-related visibility products. The lab is equipped with photometric equipment to evaluate the products while traveling at night or in inclement weather. Contact: Adam Pike, [email protected] Smart Intersection TTI’s Smart Intersection tests connected vehicle applications, traffic signal control and connected infrastructure interoperability. For one research […]

Nearly 200 participants at the Fourth Annual Texas A&M Transportation Technology Conference learned the latest on connected and automated vehicle (CAV) research and deployment activities in Texas and the nation. The April 29–May 1 conference was organized by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), in partnership with The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M University, […]

Leaving your keys on the counter, you shut the door and head out for the new bus rapid transit (BRT) station. The sun is warm on your skin. Your muscles warm as you walk. A little footwork on days like today beats sitting in traffic congestion or waiting for what seems like forever on the […]

With more than 57,000 miles of two-lane rural highways in Texas — where it’s estimated that 68 percent of rural travel occurs — Texas drivers are known to pull onto the shoulder to let a vehicle pass, sometimes creating an unsafe situation. Developing and increasing use of low-cost roadway safety and capacity improvements are key […]

Plastic or paper. Decaf or regular. Cash or credit. Consumers make choices every day. Whether it’s about how we shop, how we dine, or how we purchase goods and services, most of our decisions are pretty straightforward. We know what we want, and we know why. When it comes to how we commute, however, things […]

Science teachers across the country can now easily obtain a no-cost curriculum and the materials needed to teach their students about the science of retroreflectivity, a unique characteristic of traffic signs and pavement markings. The materials used to make the signs and markings make it possible to direct light from vehicles back to drivers, which […]

The practice of burying or placing utility lines without adequate documentation has caused large-scale problems across the country. It’s also helped create a new program devoted entirely to the issue. The Utility Engineering Program, formed last year at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) to capitalize on the Institute’s two decades of leading-edge research and […]

Roadways don’t build themselves. They require careful planning, construction and regular maintenance, all of which require work zones designed to keep both workers and travelers safe. Sometimes those measures fail. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in 2017, there were 27,148 work zone crashes in Texas. Of those, 199 were fatalities, and 813 […]

ENCOUNTERING the same construction zones day after day, month after month, it’s only natural for travelers to ask “Why does this have to take so long?” Thanks to a growing reliance on creative thinking, it no longer does. That thinking is at the root of accelerated construction, an effort launched in Texas in 1998 and […]

According to the Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT’s) Accelerated Construction Guidelines, a typical major highway project might take anywhere from 8 to 15 years. TxDOT says decreasing the time it takes to complete the preconstruction phase alone can save $100,000 to $500,000. The construction phase of transportation improvements is often thought of as the determining […]

Gene Hawkins, research engineer with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), has been honored with the John “Jake” Landen Memorial Highway Safety Award in recognition of his “significant and lasting contributions to the safety of our nation’s highways.” The award is presented annually by the Traffic Safety Industry Division of the American Road & Transportation […]

For the international economy to thrive, economic development can’t stop at national borders. Facilitating growth requires moving goods efficiently from one country to another, which in turn requires a vital, robust transportation system. In 2006, the Texas Legislature established the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s (TTI’s) Center for International Intelligent Transportation Research (CIITR). Through applied research, […]

TTI’s smart cities research focus gained an international partner on March 9 when the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Smart City Institute (SCI) of the University of Liège in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium. The purpose of the MOU, which was signed by TTI Agency Director Greg Winfree and SCI […]

Numerous Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers and students were recognized during the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 97th Annual Meeting Jan. 7–11 in Washington, D.C. This year’s gathering of transportation professionals from around the globe included more than 5,000 presentations in nearly 800 sessions and workshops. Best Paper Awards The paper “Field Evaluation of Pilot […]

In 1950, Texas A&M College already enjoyed a 40-year reputation for innovative road materials research. That, combined with the college’s land-grant mission of public service, made it a natural home for the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). The shared connection between academic learning and applied research was embodied in TTI’s first director, Fred Benson, who […]

In March 2016, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) embarked on the Campus Transportation Technology Initiative (CTTI). Supported by Texas A&M University and funded by President Michael K. Young, the project’s vision is to bring transportation innovation to campus to improve safety, mobility and quality of life. TTI Senior Research Scientist Bob Brydia leads the […]

Celebrating 20 Years of the Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse See related story. *Source: American Road and Transportation Builders Association, Transportation Builder®, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 5, 16–22. On this page: For More Information For more information:

For the past 50 years, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has provided assistance to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to make the nation’s transportation system safer, more efficient and more resilient. Across the DOT’s spectrum of modal agencies—air, highways, motor carriers, rail, transit, maritime, traffic safety, and pipeline and hazardous materials—TTI expertise has […]

TTI research and technical support pivotal to development and success over the years Approaching its quarter-century birthday, the Houston TranStar Transportation Management and Emergency Operations Center (TranStar) has saved Harris County area motorists more than $5.4 billion in reduced traveler delay and fuel costs since 1997, when benefits were first assessed. The multi-agency effort uses […]

Transportation project design and construction, even under the best of circumstances, are challenging for all concerned — the agency paying for the project, the engineer designing it, the contractor building it, and the travelers waiting on its completion. Transportation agencies face numerous obstacles regarding utilities, including a lack of accurate information about utility facilities that […]

It’s now considered the world’s largest and most extensive resource for roadway work zone safety. But 20 years ago, the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse was just an idea — to have one location where practitioners could find information about how to improve work zone safety. It was an idea born from necessity because […]

On Aug. 17, reporters and transportation agency representatives gathered under a tent near a repurposed runway at The Texas A&M University System’s RELLIS Campus. They watched as Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) Research Engineer Melisa Finley — known for her innovative studies on wrong-way drivers — led a first-of-its-kind and successful connected-vehicle demonstration funded by […]

In June, the Texas State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) met for the third time since its inception in 2016. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) co-hosted the Austin event, with 110 transportation personnel attending. The STIC brings stakeholders together semiannually to facilitate more rapid deployment and implementation of new technologies, […]

Comparison based on statewide data in Texas from 2006–2009 and 2010–2013. See related story. *SOURCES: Texas Railroad Commission, Texas Department of Transportation and Texas A&M Transportation Institute

In Texas, I-35 stretches some 500 miles, from the Rio Grande to the Red River. Much of I-35 was once known as the Chisholm Trail, and 50 percent of the state’s population — that’s nearly 14 million people — live within 50 miles of I-35 today. No wonder Texans refer to the interstate as Main […]

A new, comprehensive review of the impacts of shale oil and gas development in Texas by a cross-disciplinary task force — organized by the Academy of Medicine, Engineering and Science of Texas (TAMEST) — finds a wide range of both benefits and consequences for the state’s infrastructure, environment and communities. These impacts are detailed in […]

It’s a foregone conclusion among many transportation experts that connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) will be commonplace within the next decade. CAV technologies promise not only to make our transportation system more efficient, but also to save lives and reduce the systemwide costs associated with transportation. To grapple with the complexities associated with CAV adoption, […]

As travel pattern data collection techniques continue to evolve, Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers have completed numerous leading-edge studies over the past several years that compare travel data collected from cellphones, GPS and Bluetooth® sources to determine which technology works best for collecting origin-destination (O-D) data for different types of transportation studies. An O-D […]

A transportation revolution is about to take place, the likes of which we’ve not seen since the invention of the internal combustion engine. Connected and automated vehicles (CV/AVs) hold the promise of vastly improving safety, mobility and the economy. We’re on the cusp of this transformation, and The Texas A&M University System’s engineering community is […]

TTI Provides Guidelines for Ports Seeking TRZ Financing IN 2007, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE ENABLED A NEW FINANCING MECHANISM, the transportation reinvestment zone (TRZ), to encourage local infrastructure development. TRZs have proven very successful over the last decade for highway development. TRZs designate an impact area around a needed improvement project. A municipality or county can […]

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) are partnering under a contract with Texas A&M University to develop a smarter campus transportation ecosystem. Texas A&M University President Michael K. Young created the Campus Transportation Technology Initiative (CTTI) to bring private-sector transportation innovation into the real-world environment of a […]

Five Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) researchers were presented with best paper awards during the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 96th Annual Meeting, held in Washington, D.C., Jan. 8–12. One of the researchers also received an Outstanding Student of the Year Award at the Council of University Transportation Centers banquet held prior to the TRB Annual […]

Can an automated, commercial two-truck platoon be deployed on specific corridors in Texas in the next five to ten years? Thanks to a successful test by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the agencies are one big step closer to answering that question. […]

Self-driving cars. Seamless communication between vehicles and the roadside. The ability to multitask while driving from point A to point B reliably, safely and on time. It all sounds a bit like the George Jetson future we were promised in the 1960s, minus the flying cars. The difference is that the connected vehicle/automated vehicle (CV/AV) […]

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has been selected by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to evaluate connected vehicle projects in southern Wyoming, New York City, and Tampa, Fla. The multiyear federal contract is for $10.75 million. Vehicle challenges and opportunities have driven the need for the pilot tests and evaluations. Roadway congestion in the […]

Recognized for its longstanding history of excellence in safety research, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) has been awarded a multiyear, multimillion-dollar contract by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety Research and Development. The contract, which could provide as much as $50 million in funding over the next five years, supports the FHWA […]

Without curious minds, our transportation system would, quite literally, come to a standstill. In a very real way, the transportation research process keeps the system moving, and that process starts with a seemingly simple question: How can we do this better? Asking that question shines the light of innovation on the status quo to help […]

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute has been awarded a multi-year federal contract worth up to $10.75 million to evaluate connected vehicle pilot tests in several U.S. cities. TTI will conduct the evaluations for the U.S. Department of Transportation, for connected projects in southern Wyoming, New York City, and Tampa, Florida. Connected vehicles are those that […]

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and Texas A&M University Transportation Services completed construction on a first-of-its-kind non-signalized, Dutch-style intersection Oct. 3. The protected intersection includes bright green solar luminescent pavement markings used to delineate the bicycle pathways—also a first use in the United States. In this innovation, the illuminating green pavement marking keeps the pathways […]

One of the major emerging technologies in highway safety has been the improvement of the types of retroreflectivity sheeting used on overhead signs on roadways. Modern signs are very efficient at returning light back to the driver, creating a much safer nighttime driving environment. Because of this, many departments of transportation are opting to remove […]

For more than 20 years, researchers at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) have educated future generations about transportation engineering. These programs range from K-12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) activities to the basics of how TTI researchers conduct their studies. This summer, TTI welcomed students from the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum […]

“Can we deploy an automated, commercial two-truck platoon on specific corridors in Texas in the next 5 to 10 years?” Thanks to a successful test by TTI, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), the agencies are a big step closer to answering that question. TTI hosted a first of […]

Kay Fitzpatrick, senior research engineer and manager of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Roadway Design Program, has received numerous awards over the course of her 33-year career at TTI. But the one she received at the 15th International Conference on Managed Lanes in Miami, Florida, held May 4-6, holds special significance. Fitzpatrick accepted the inaugural […]

Things are looking up for the U.S. economy. Or that’s what freight moving across the U.S.-Mexico border between 2012 and 2014 seems to indicate. There are 25 land ports of entry (POEs) along the 1,969-mile U.S.-Mexico border that serve as trade gateways between the two countries. Recent negative changes in the global economy resulted in […]

When cars are able to talk to other cars and the road itself, our transportation system could be safer, less congested and a lot more efficient. Experts believe connectivity and automation can get us there. Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp wants to ensure this technology becomes a reality and that Texas A&M plays […]

For many pedestrians, crossing a busy multilane roadway without the protection of a traffic signal is a nerve-wracking, sometimes dangerous proposition, even when using a marked crosswalk. As a means of improving safety at uncontrolled pedestrian crosswalks, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has sponsored research on a variety of traffic control devices intended to increase […]

Led by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), a team of public agencies including the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC El Paso) Department of Neurology, the El Paso Fire Department (EPFD) and Mexican ambulance companies are conducting research to speed up cross-border transportation for heart attack and stroke victims. Mortality rates […]

It’s a technique that’s been used for years in the trucking industry, but now drafting, or truck platooning, is about to enter the world of autonomous driving known as level 2 truck platooning. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is beginning phase one of a project to test the feasibility of level 2 truck platooning […]

Seeing a smoking vehicle traveling down the highway makes us think about the air we’re breathing. When rainfall causes the road to be slick from tire residue and engine spills, we don’t often think of what happens when the pollutants wash off the road. But what the roadside does with the polluted water and how […]