by Jeno Belogh and Rebecca Atadero This report describes research performed in coordination with work at the University of Stuttgart, attempting to establish the S-N curve for fatigue loading of notched wood-concrete connections based on low...
by Scott Koch, George Huntington, and Khaled Ksaibati This study addresses both structural and surfacing issues associated with unpaved roads subjected to heavier traffic applications. Different gravel types with various dust suppressants including recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and...
by Denver Tolliver, Pan Lu, and Douglas Benson The purpose of this study is to provide information about railroad fuel efficiency that may be useful in evaluating transportation energy policies and assessing the sustainability of potential projects. The...
Andrew Bratlien joined UGPTI in February as a transportation research engineer. He will provide engineering expertise in support of UGPTI's transportation planning and infrastructure research. He will also provide highway analysis and modeling capabilities for state and local agencies and contribute transportation engineering expertise on a broad array of topics, including pavement and bridge design and analysis.
Recipients for the 2013 Awards Banquet have been announced. Francis Ziegler and Harlan Klein will receive the John M. Agrey Award. Mark Holzer will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Mark your calendar to join us on October 3, 2013 to honor these individuals.
The Spring 2013 issue of the Transit Lane Brief has been published and is available online. This issue features articles on recently completed research studies regarding transit and community livability, use of effortless passenger identification systems, and use of technologies for improving public participation, as well as an update on training activities and personnel changes.
Jill Hough, director of the Small Urban & Rural Transit Center at NDSU's Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, was recently featured in Progressive Railroading. She discussed her work as chair of the National Transit Curriculum Advisory Committee, a group that has been developing a standard curriculum for a semester-long college course on public transportation that could be offered by universities nationwide.
Local rural road travel has the highest injury crash incidence in North Dakota. These roads are typically narrow two-lane roads with limited or no shoulder, and often unpaved surfaces that account for 1 in 5 rural travel miles beyond the interstate system. Local roads accounted for nearly...
High-visibility safety apparel means personal protective safety clothing that is intended to provide conspicuity
during both daytime and nighttime usage.
The 2013 Annual Awards Banquet will be held Oct. 3, 2013 at the Fargo Holiday Inn. The banquet honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the transportation industry in the region.
MPC's 2013 Key Center Directory has been posted online. The directory provides contact information for the MPC-related administrative staff and faculty at the consortium's member institutions.
Occupant seat belt use in fatal and injury crashes is considerably lower than conventional use rate reported by NHTSA. North Dakota's 10-year average occupant use in fatal crashes is 23%, and injury crashes, 64%.
Crashes in this report are defined as speed-related if the attending officer specified that racing, driving too fast for conditions, or exceeding the posted speed limit was a contributing factor (NHTSA).
UGPTI director Denver Tolliver discussed NDSU's Master of Managerial Logistics Program in the April edition of Military Advanced Education. Tolliver's comments were included in the article "Logistically Speaking" which outlined how pursuing a degree in logistics or supply chain management can help service members advance in both the military and civilian worlds.
by Andrew Kubas, Poyraz Kayabas, Kimberly Vachal, and Mark Berwick Rumble strips and rumble stripes are a recommended strategy for crash reduction. The North Dakota Department of Transportation initiated rumble strip use in the 1970s and greatly expanded application of...
by Kimberly Vachal Local rural road travel has the highest injury crash incidence in North Dakota. Crashes on these roads were determined to differ in contributing factors and characteristics when compared to those...
by Andrea Huseth This report gives a summary of the current state of alcohol-impaired driving and countermeasures in the United States and individual states, including North Dakota.
by David Ripplinger, Elvis Ndembe, and Jill Hough This study is an attempt to empirically measure livability to emphasize its role in community livability. Establishing these measures would enhance the practice and implementation of livability principles by various...
A profile of Jill Hough, director of UGPTI's Small Urban & Rural Transit Center, is featured in the American Public Transit Association's newsletter, Passenger Transport, and on its website.
Transportation and Logistics Students Evaluate Bridge Options in Oil Country Traffic and road issues related to oil development in North Dakota became part of the curriculum for students in an advanced transportation and logistics class last semester.
The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU has added two members to its research staff. Ranjit Godavarthy will work on public transportation research and Bradley Wentz will direct the institute's Advanced Traffic Analysis Center and its Department of Transportation Support Center.
by Kimberly Vachal and Laurel Benson The objective of this report is to provide a benchmark for elevator managers in assessing performance, and supply a source for recognizing trends in the characteristics of North Dakota elevators.
by Kimberly Vachal and Laurel Benson This report represents a continuation of analysis concerned with the patterns and methods of distributing grains and oilseeds from North Dakota.
"Defense Logistics and National Security," a seminar by retired Lieutenant General Claude V. Christianson will be presented Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 3 p.m. in the Arikara Room of the NDSU Memorial Union.
by Jon Mielke, Keven Anderson, and Carol Wright This study was precipitated by legislative action which mandated two transit coordination pilot projects in North Dakota. The report summarizes implementation efforts that were underway by the North Dakota Department...
Raj Bridgelall will present a paper, "Continuous Railroad Track Condition Monitoring Using Energy Harvesting RFID," at Sensors Expo 2013 in Rosemont, IL, June 4-6. Bridgelall's presentation is one of more than 60 technical sessions focusing on the development and deployment of sensor systems. The convention is one the largest events in North America to focus on sensors and sensor-integrated systems.
by Jeremy Mattson Older adults, people with disabilities, individuals in low-income households, and those living in rural areas can face significant mobility challenges. This study examines travel behavior and mobility of these transportation-disadvantaged...
by Kimberly Vachal Agriculture is a leading source of demand for transport resources. It accounted for nearly 1 in 5 ton-miles of highway freight and 1 in 10 ton-miles of rail and barge...
by Paul R. Heyliger, Doug Allen, Michael Lebsack, and Thomas Wilson Alternatives to existing transportation truck escape ramps and crash barriers are examined using arrays of wood, bamboo, and fiberglass structural elements that act as energy absorbers as they deform. The...
Trucks are an important mode of economic connectivity in rural states like North Dakota. The size/mass difference between 80,000-pound trucks and 4,000-pound passenger vehicles, along with operational differences such as acceleration/deceleration times and turning radiuses, heighten risk for crash events.
SURTC researcher Jeremy Mattson presented the results of a survey of small urban and rural transit systems regarding alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles. The experiences of users, perceived benefits and deterrents, and factors affecting adoption are explored. Findings provide useful information to transit operators considering adoption of alternative fuels and hybrids and to policy makers considering policies on these alternatives.
The Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute held its annual awards banquet Oct. 11 at the Fargo Holiday Inn. Tracee Sutton, Gary Berreth and Jim Moench were recognized for their contributions to the region's transportation industry. Five scholarships also were presented to NDSU students.
by Karen J. Thoms, William E. Thoms, and Kristi L. Kelly This paper will discuss a recent example of a trademark from a now-defunct airline that was shown to continue to have significant value because of its familiarity around the world...
The statewide driver traffic safety survey provides the NDDOT Traffic Safety Office an understanding of perceptions and behaviors related to focus issues. A set of core questions addresses nationally agreed upon priorities including seat belts, drinking and driving, and speeding.
An updated directory of North Dakota motor carriers is now available. Carriers can be searched by type of cargo, trailer type, and scope of operation. Information in the directory was gathered by surveying carriers with commercial vehicles registered in North Dakota.
Tracee Sutton, legislative director for Senator Kent Conrad will receive the Agrey Award, the highest award given by the UGPTI. The Agrey Award recognizes and honors an individual who has made significant contributions to the state of North Dakota, its citizens and its business community through involvement in transportation. The award will be presented at the UGPTI Annual Awards Banquet held October 11.
Road usage in western North Dakota has changed considerably over time. Interstate, highway, and low volume unpaved roads have been used with greater frequency because of increased agricultural production and a growing energy sector. This evolution is especially evident in a 17-county region that encompasses a geographic formation where oil extraction methods have recently improved production economics.
The Fall 2012 issue of the Transit Lane Brief has been published and is available online. This issue has articles on three new research projects that are underway, two reports that were recently published, and SURTC's numerous ongoing training activities.
Gary Berreth will receive the institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes an individual who has had a distinguished career in a transportation-related field. The award will be presented at the UGPTI Annual Awards Banquet held October 11.
Jim Moench will receive the Chairman's Award. The award recognizes an individual for contributions to transportation research, education, and outreach at NDSU, and/or contributions to the viability of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. The award will be presented at the UGPTI Annual Awards Banquet held October 11.
There are a number of safety problems common to most workplaces and job sites that can be solved with a little common sense. Planning and thinking ahead can help eliminate most of these hazards. Take a close look at your workplace with these suggestions in mind.
Levi Hall and Tanner Rohloff will receive the $1,500 Paul E.R. Abrahamson Transportation Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes outstanding students at NDSU with an interest in the transportation and logistics of agricultural products. The scholarships will be presented at the UGPTI Annual Awards Banquet held October 11.
by Kimberly Vachal and Laurel Benson With the understanding that seat belts are a relatively low-cost safety device, and are an easy primary protection for occupants in passenger vehicles, North Dakota has chosen to continue to...
Danielle Franssen will receive the $2,000 Charles E. Herman Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes academic achievement and promotes the education of transportation students with a preference to women and minorities at NDSU. The scholarship will be presented at the UGPTI Annual Awards Banquet held October 11.
by Andrea Huseth and Andrew Kubas This study analyzes data from past DUI offender surveys using the findings as a resource for improving traffic safety program functionality and effectiveness in reducing the tendency of North Dakotans...
by Andrew Kubas and Kimberly Vachal Over time, road usage in western North Dakota has changed. Interstate, highway, and low-volume unpaved roads have been used with greater frequency because of increased agricultural production and a growing...
Stacy Engelmeyer and Taylor Krolak will receive the $1,500 Transportation Engineering Scholarships. The scholarships recognize academic achievement and promote the education of transportation students at NDSU. The scholarships will be presented at the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute's Annual Awards Banquet held Oct. 11 where we honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the transportation industry in the region.
This report responds to the North Dakota legislature's request for a study of the transportation infrastructure needs of all county and township roads in the state. In this report, infrastructure needs are estimated using the most current production...
NDSU's Master of Managerial Logistics program was recently highlighted in August issue of "Military Logistics Forum," a magazine that bills itself at the "world's largest magazine dedicated exclusively to the military logistics community."
by Jeremy Mattson, David Ripplinger, and Del Peterson The Small Urban & Rural Transit Center (SURTC) conducted surveys of NDSU students during the fall and spring semesters of 2010-2011 regarding travel behavior and experience with Metro Area Transit...
Brenda Lantz was recently named associate director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. Lantz, with more than 20 years of experience on the UGPTI's research staff, will help lead the UGPTI's research, education, and outreach activities. She will assist in managing...
by Kimberly Vachal, Laurel Benson, and Andrew Kubas The initial statewide driver traffic safety survey provides baseline metrics for the TSO and others in understanding perceptions and behaviors related to focus issues. A core set of questions addresses...
by Richard J. Porter and Jonathan S. Wood This research compares safety, measured by expected crash frequency and severity, on road segments where design exceptions were approved and constructed to similar road segments where no design exceptions were...
Researchers examined more than 40,000 crashes to determine if multiple citations for driving-under-the-influence (DUI) related offenses are linked with higher crash rates. The analysis indicates...
by David Ripplinger The justification of government support of rural transit on the basis of the presence of increasing returns to scale and the most efficient regional organization of transit is investigated. Returns...
Three transportation and logistics graduate students recently were awarded honors in a student paper competition sponsored by the Urban and Regional Information System Association.
This bulletin highlights the upcoming deadline for the "You Show Us" contest as well as the new MUTCD sign retro compliance dates, including webinars and slides.
The West Nile virus (WNV) is most often spread to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito. The
WNV normally cycles between mosquitoes and birds. However, people may also be infected if they are
bitten by a WNV-infected mosquito.
Three candidates will participate in on-campus interviews for the position of associate director of the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute. Drs. Jill Hough and Kim Vachal will interview Tuesday, August 7, and Dr. Brenda Lantz will interview Wednesday, August 8.
SURTC researcher Jeremy Mattson presented findings from a recent study on travel behavior and mobility of transportation disadvantaged populations, specifically older adults and people with disabilities. The study examined 2009 National Household Travel Survey data on driving, trip frequency, staying in the same place all day or week, miles driven per year, mode choice, use of public transportation, trip purpose, trip distance, and issues and concerns regarding transportation. Differences between 2001 and 2009 were documented to identify trends in travel behavior.
NDSU researcher Jill Hough was elected to the executive board of the Council of University Transportation Centers at the group's annual summer meeting June 20-22 at Michigan Tech in Houghton, Mich.
The Smart Roadside vision is one in which commercial vehicles, companies, enforcement, and other transportation facilities share information seamlessly in order to improve safety, security, operational efficiency, and freight mobility. For the first phase to advance this vision FMCSA and FHWA have identified four programs and projects to be the primary focus...
The 2012 Annual Awards Banquet will be held Oct. 11, 2012 at the Fargo Holiday Inn. Join us as we honor award winners Tracee Sutton, Gary Berreth, and Jim Moench.
by Peter T. Martin, Milan Zlatkovic, and Ivana Tasic This report describes the University of Utah Traffic Lab (UTL) driving simulator, and a scenario development for Flex Lanes driving simulation. The first part describes the driving simulator in details....
Fargo television station WDAY featured the recent American Public Transportation Association Public Transportation and Universities conference. The spot features comments from APTA president Michael Melaniphy. The conference was hosted by the UGPTI's Small Urban & Rural Transit Center and MATBUS.
