Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online or in-person (proof of vaccination required, see below) at 11:30 AM. All presentations are recorded and shared on the event page afterwards.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• Slides
• TREC Twitter Thread
• PDH Certificate

THE TOPIC 

John MacArthur and Cameron Bennett of Portland State University will be presenting the findings and recommendations from their recent white paper "Using E-Bike Incentive Programs to Expand the Market – Trends and Best Practices." This will include a review of the 50+ current, past, and proposed e-bike purchase incentive programs in North America, including summary statistics and details from exemplary programs. Best practice gained from review of the programs and discussion with program managers, industry professionals, and other stakeholders will be shared. A discussion of the benefits of promoting e-bike uptake in regard to mode shift, VMT, emissions, and human health will be provided to support the value added by an incentive program. Finally, John and Cameron will preview upcoming results from their stated preference survey intended to provide quantitative guidance for e-bike purchase incentive program design.

This event is part of Portland State University's annual Research Week, hosted May 2 - 6, learn more.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Benefits of e-bikes for achieving mode shift, VMT, emissions, and health goals
• An overview of current e-bike purchase incentive programs in North America
• Best practice guidance for the design of an e-bike purchase incentive program

THE RESEARCH

This presentation is based on a study funded by the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) with support from PeopleForBikes, and conducted at Portland State University. Read more about the project: How Can E-bike Purchase Incentives Grow the E-bike Market?, and learn more about the online e-bike incentive program tracker.

SPEAKERS

John MacArthur, TREC at Portland State University

Mr. John MacArthur is the Sustainable Transportation Program Manager at TREC at Portland State University and an instructor in civil and environmental engineering, teaching on new & emerging technologies in transportation. He is active in research related to sustainable and equitable transportation, particularly in the areas of emerging tech such as e-bikes, bike share, transit, and the relationship between transportation and public health. Mr. MacArthur is the Section Chair for Transportation Research Board’s AME00 Transportation and Society and a member of Innovative Public Transportation Services and Technologies (AP020). He received his BS in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University and a MS in Environmental Health Sciences from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.

Cameron Bennett, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Portland State University

Cameron is a first-year master’s student in transportation engineering at PSU. His work as a graduate research assistant focuses on promoting and facilitating the uptake of active transportation modes. He serves as president of the PSU ITE-STEP (Students in Transportation Engineering and Planning) student group. He received a Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship presented by the U.S. Department of Transportation at the Transportation Research Board 2022 annual meeting. His passion lies in the promotion of cycling in all its forms through engineering design, planning, policy, advocacy, and community-driven engagement. In his free time, you can usually find him moving through the mountains on a bike, vertical rock, a pair of skis, or his own two feet. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute seminar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We can provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Attendance at this in-person event on the PSU campus requires valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination is either a hard copy or a picture of a vaccination card showing a vaccine series was completed at least two weeks prior to the event date. Documentation of a recent (within the last 48 hours) COVID-19 test with a negative result is either a printout or picture of results that include your name and test date. Proof of boosters not required at this time, and your medical data will not be recorded during the spot-check at the door.

Effective March 19, 2022, Portland State University no longer requires that masks be worn in classrooms, offices, and most other public and private indoor spaces. 
As PSU shifts into the next phase of the response to COVID-19, we understand that some in our community may feel more comfortable continuing to wear a mask. That is a personal decision that we wholeheartedly support. We ask that our community respect the choice of people who keep their masks on, but to refrain from asking others to wear a mask. Disposable masks will continue to be available at PSU building entrances.

Photo by Halfpoint/iStock

Sign up for our newsletter to receive monthly updates.

The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University is home to the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and other transportation programs. TREC produces research and tools for transportation decision makers, develops K-12 curriculum to expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engages students and professionals through education.

Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online at 11:30 AM. All presentations are recorded and shared on the event page afterwards.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• Slides
• PDH Certificate
• TREC Twitter thread
• Downtown Portland Car Master Plan (PDF)

THE TOPIC 

In 2022, cars are ubiquitous and completely embedded into America’s economy and social fabric. American cities don’t make car plans, but all transportation plans – whether they are for people who walk, bike, take transit, run freight or delivery businesses – are all written in response to cars. Transportation planning is all about cars; supporting cars or constraining cars. How did our cities evolve into places where cars dominate, and where can we go from here? To move to a new paradigm, cities need to acknowledge car dominance and focus on cars with the same rigor they do other modal plans – the history of cars in the city, the streets cars dominate, the actual vehicles, the drivers, and our future with cars. In the process of writing a Car Master Plan for Downtown Portland, Cathy Tuttle uncovered remarkable new information about curb space use, asphalt, and the four types of drivers.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Cars are centered in all transportation planning. This needs to change.
• People drive for a variety of reasons. In order to change car use, we need to address the needs of Four Types of Drivers.
• We direct massive resources to enable comfortable car use. A Car Master Plan identifies and reorients these resource uses.

SPEAKERS

Cathy Tuttle, Urban Design & Planning Consultant, PhD

Cathy Tuttle is a PhD in Urban Design and Planning who worked for several decades as a consultant, city planning and as founding executive director of Seattle Neighborhood Greenways.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute seminar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We can provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

Photo courtesy of Portland Bureau of Transportation

Sign up for our newsletter to receive monthly updates.

The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University is home to the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and other transportation programs. TREC produces research and tools for transportation decision makers, develops K-12 curriculum to expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engages students and professionals through education.

Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online or in-person (proof of vaccination required, see below) at 11:30 AM. All presentations are recorded and shared on the event page afterwards.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• April Bertelsen's Slides
• Nathan McNeil's Slides
• Jamie Jeffrey's Slides
• TREC Twitter thread
• PDH Certificate

THE TOPIC 

Transit priority lanes restrict access to certain lanes, prioritizing transit movement, while sometimes allowing for other users or specific actions - for example shared bus and bike lanes, or shared bus and right-turn lanes. Red coloring is sometimes used to reinforce the transit priority with the goal of improving the reliability, safety and compliance with the lane restrictions. The City of Portland and TriMet have been working with partners to use these tools to improve mobility and transit access under the Enhanced Transit Corridors Plan and Rose Lanes Project. This presentation will report back on early lessons learned as part of the design, implementation and evaluation of these facilities, with presenters from the City of Portland, TriMet and Portland State University.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Planning and design approaches to improve transit service through prioritizing transit movement.
• Interagency coordination on planning, implementing and evaluating transportation projects.
• Transit lane treatments to accommodate bus activity and other permitted movements (e.g. turning movements).
• Strategies to improve road user compliance and transit service.

SPEAKERS

Nathan McNeil, Portland State University

nmcneil@pdx.edu | Twitter

Nathan McNeil is a Research Associate at Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC). He conducts research on travel behavior, traffic safety, and programs to promote multimodal and equitable transportation. Nathan received a master of urban and regional planning from Portland State University and studied history at Columbia University as an undergraduate. Prior to PSU, Nathan worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City as a performance auditor where he evaluated capital programs and contractors.

April Bertelsen, Portland Bureau of Transportation

April Bertelsen is the City of Portland’s first Transit Modal Coordinator. She works on the Complete Streets team in Transportation Planning at the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). She led the development of the PBOT Enhanced Transit Corridors Plan and Rose Lane Project through the planning phase. She has been with the City since 2000, serving the city various roles as a transportation planner. She earned her Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at PSU. She is passionate about improving transit, equity, complete streets, multi-modal design, data-driven decisions and partnerships, because we make more happen together.

Jamie Jeffrey, Portland Bureau of Transportation

Jamie Jeffrey manages the Traffic Design Section of the Portland Bureau of Transportation. She has worked as a traffic engineer for the City of Portland for 31 years in a variety of capacities.  She has worked on a number of transit projects, including the Eastside Streetcar project, the PBOT Enhanced Transit Corridors Plan and Rose Lane Project, as well as numerous Transit Spot Improvement Projects. She has Bachelor of Science degrees in both Civil Engineering and Engineering Management from the University of Portland. She is dedicated to finding innovative design solutions for multi-modal improvements that address both equity and climate.

Jamie Snook, TriMet

Jamie Snook has served as the Director of Major Projects at TriMet since 2021. Prior to that, she was a Planning Manager in TriMet Capital Projects.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 90-minute seminar is eligible for 1.5 hours of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We can provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Attendance at this in-person event on the PSU campus requires valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination is either a hard copy or a picture of a vaccination card showing a vaccine series was completed at least two weeks prior to the event date. Documentation of a recent (within the last 48 hours) COVID-19 test with a negative result is either a printout or picture of results that include your name and test date. Proof of boosters not required at this time, and your medical data will not be recorded during the spot-check at the door.

Effective March 19, 2022, Portland State University no longer requires that masks be worn in classrooms, offices, and most other public and private indoor spaces.
As PSU shifts into the next phase of the response to COVID-19, we understand that some in our community may feel more comfortable continuing to wear a mask. That is a personal decision that we wholeheartedly support. We ask that our community respect the choice of people who keep their masks on, but to refrain from asking others to wear a mask. Disposable masks will continue to be available at PSU building entrances.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive monthly updates.

Photo by Cait McCusker

The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University is home to the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and other transportation programs. TREC produces research and tools for transportation decision makers, develops K-12 curriculum to expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engages students and professionals through education.

Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online or in-person (proof of vaccination required, see below) at 11:30 AM. All presentations are recorded and shared on the event page afterwards.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Media coverage of this seminar:
  • How To Save the Lives of Unhoused Pedestrians (Streetsblog USA, June 13, 2022)
  • PSU planning students share ‘promising practices’ to reduce crashes near homeless camps (Bike Portland, June 7, 2022)
• View the final report: "Safety Interventions for Houseless Pedestrians" (PDF).
• Video
• Slides
• PDH Certificate
• TREC Twitter thread

THE TOPIC 

Cities across the U.S. are facing alarming increases in traffic fatalities, especially among the number of pedestrians who are struck and killed by drivers. Last year, 70 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in Portland were of people experiencing houselessness. As the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is updating the city's Vision Zero Plan, a team of PSU urban and regional planning masters students have been investigating how to reduce the risk of being hit and killed specifically for unhoused people. During this presentation, the Street Perspective team will explain the situation, review their approach, and then share the recommendations they'll be providing to PBOT to reduce the risk of pedestrian fatalities among the city's vulnerable houseless communities.

This project was conducted by graduate students in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program at Portland State University. They work in teams of 4–6 members to complete applied planning projects, as part of a required course known as "the MURP workshop." This course is intended to give our students hands-on experience in conceiving, planning, and implementing a community-based planning project in close consultation with a committed client/partner. 

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• The solution is more complex than simply sweeping camps near high-crash corridors and moving people experiencing houselessness to safer locations.
• Sweeping in and of itself only makes the problem worse, contributing to declining mental, physical, and emotional health for unhoused people.
• Access to basic needs and services is crucial to the well-being of houseless individuals, and creating safer access should be a priority.

SPEAKERS

Street Perspective is a team of six MURP students from a variety of backgrounds, interests, and experiences: Peter Domine, Nick Meusch, Asif Haque, Angie Martínez, Sean Doyle, and Meisha Whyte. We are all committed to making Portland and other cities safer, more equitable, and more accessible places for all residents.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute seminar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We can provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Attendance at this in-person event on the PSU campus requires valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination is either a hard copy or a picture of a vaccination card showing a vaccine series was completed at least two weeks prior to the event date. Documentation of a recent (within the last 48 hours) COVID-19 test with a negative result is either a printout or picture of results that include your name and test date. Proof of boosters not required at this time, and your medical data will not be recorded during the spot-check at the door.

Effective March 19, 2022, Portland State University no longer requires that masks be worn in classrooms, offices, and most other public and private indoor spaces.
As PSU shifts into the next phase of the response to COVID-19, we understand that some in our community may feel more comfortable continuing to wear a mask. That is a personal decision that we wholeheartedly support. We ask that our community respect the choice of people who keep their masks on, but to refrain from asking others to wear a mask. Disposable masks will continue to be available at PSU building entrances.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive monthly updates.

Photo courtesy of NACTO/PBOT

The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University is home to the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and other transportation programs. TREC produces research and tools for transportation decision makers, develops K-12 curriculum to expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engages students and professionals through education.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• Nicole Iroz Elardo's slides
• Kristi Currans' slides
• PDH Certificate

OVERVIEW

Shared electric scooters (e-scooters) are fast becoming a mobility option in cities across the United States. This new micromobility mode has the potential to replace car usage for certain trips, which stands to have a positive impact on public health and sustainability goals. However, many aspects of this emerging mode are not well understood.This webinar explores the findings of three NITC studies examining transportation mode choices, safety, and public health outcomes of electric scooters.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• describe the ways in which electric scooters may provide new substitutive, complimentary or synergist transportation opportunities for different activities, compared with conventional modes (e.g., vehicles, transit, biking, walking).
• distinguish different types of crash and injury behaviors and risks for electric scooter users in the built environment.
• recognize relationships between mode choices around e-scooters may influence other health outcomes, including those related to changes in physical activities.

THE RESEARCH

The three studies were funded by the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC):

• Evaluation of Portland Shared E-Scooter Pilot Program Goals and Outcomes: The primary objective of this research is to quantify the impacts of scooter operations on vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Led by John MacArthur, Portland State University.
• Scooting to a New Era in Active Transportation: Examining the Use and Safety of E-Scooters: This study examined the interplay between demographics, behaviors and trip purposes in order to better understand the potential impacts of e-scooters on land use, infrastructure and sustainability goals. Led by Kristi Currans, University of Arizona.
• E-Scooters and Public Health: Understanding the Implications of E-Scooters on Chronic Disease: This project investigates the impact of e-scooter use on chronic disease and public health, examining factors such as pollution exposure and physical activity. Led by Nicole Iroz-Elardo, University of Arizona.

SPEAKERS

Kristi Currans, University of Arizona

Kristina Currans is an Assistant Professor in the College of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She studies the intersection between transportation and land use development. Although trained as a civil engineer, Dr. Currans' work bridges the transportation planning and engineering disciplines. Her current research and teaching emphasizes the rethinking and redeveloping new data and methods for applications in practice to help communities plan for the places they want. Recent and ongoing research includes: (1) Operationalizing the link between off-site parking supply and vehicle demand impacts for practice; (2) Shared electric scooter programs and how they can be integrated into traveler's behavior choices; (3) How the availability of transportation infrastructure impacts transportation choices (e.g., drive, walk, bike); and (4) The impact of transit investment on real estate values across multiple regions and transit systems.

Nicole Iroz-Elardo, University of Arizona

Nicole Iroz-Elardo is an Assistant Research Professor in the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning. Cross-trained in planning and public health, her research focuses on how to plan healthier and more equitable communities. Dr. Iroz-Elardo has a PhD in Urban Studies from Portland State University. Her doctoral research investigated the extent to which Health Impact Assessment provided an additional participation avenue for vulnerable communities in transportation planning processes. She has previously worked for Urban Design 4 Health, Inc., Oregon Health Authority, and Battelle Memorial Institute. At each, she specialized in translating cutting-edge research into practitioner tools to increase the suite of information upon which decisions - public and private - are made.

John MacArthur, Portland State University

Mr. John MacArthur is the Sustainable Transportation Program Manager at TREC at Portland State University and an instructor in civil and environmental engineering, teaching on new & emerging technologies in transportation. He is active in research related to sustainable and equitable transportation, particularly in the areas of emerging tech such as e-bikes, bike share, transit, and the relationship between transportation and public health. Mr. MacArthur is the Section Chair for Transportation Research Board’s AME00 Transportation and Society and a member of Innovative Public Transportation Services and Technologies (AP020). He received his BS in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University and a MS in Environmental Health Sciences from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute webinar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

LEARN MORE

Sign up for our newsletter to get updates on our events.

Photo by Sundry Photography/iStock

This webinar is hosted by the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University. The research was funded by the Summit Foundation and the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), a program of TREC and one of five U.S. Department of Transportation national university transportation centers. The NITC program is a Portland State-led partnership with the University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Utah and new partners University of Arizona and University of Texas at Arlington. We pursue our theme — improving mobility of people and goods to build strong communities — through research, education and technology transfer.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• PDH Certificate

OVERVIEW

Transportation systems play a critical role in maintaining supply chains for effective post-disaster recovery. Modeling the potential economic impact of transportation-related disruptions, therefore, is an important step to promoting pre-event communitywide recovery and resilience planning. But existing supply chain and economic impact models are cost prohibitive and overly sophisticated for use by public sector entities with limited resources. There is also limited understanding of how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adjust to post-disaster transportation disruption and how this experience influences their future preparedness for similar events. Since SMEs make up a majority of businesses within the US, post-disaster transportation loss can significantly affect the local economy and the recovery trajectory for the entire community.

This project has two objectives:

1. To develop a collaborative university-community partnership framework for analyzing the economic impact due to transportation disruptions in earthquake country
2. To examine SME preparedness to such managing such disruptions.

In phase one, the project used the scenario of an M7.0 earthquake in Utah’s Wasatch Front and brought together a common set of public sector actors (namely, emergency management departments, metropolitan planning organizations, port authorities, and university research centers) and tools they already use (namely, HAZUS, travel demand modeling and REMI+) to help assess the potential impact of catastrophic earthquakes on the regional economy.

The second phase of the study surveyed 150 SMEs within the top 10 worst-affected industrial sectors identified in Phase 1 to understand how they are currently navigating supply disruptions due to COVID-19 and their future earthquake preparedness. In addition to generating deeper understanding of economic impacts of transportation disruption, the project also develops a collaborative framework that can easily be transferred to other communities that need similar supply chain and economic impact assessments for their resilience planning purposes.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Understanding of how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adjust to post-disaster transportation disruption;
• Introduction to a collaborative framework for supply chain and economic impact assessments;
• How to transfer this framework to other communities where it can be of use.

THE RESEARCH

This webinar is based on a study funded by the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) and conducted at the University of Utah. Read more about the research: Estimating the Economic Impacts Of Transportation-Related Supply Chain Disruptions In The Post-Earthquake Environment.

SPEAKER

Divya Chandrasekhar, University of Utah

Divya Chandrasekhar is an Associate Professor in the Department of City & Metropolitan Planning at the University of Utah with expertise in community recovery from disasters. Her research has examined post-disaster community participation and capacity building, networking and coordination among recovery institutions, and disaster recovery policy in South and southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the U.S. Divya specializes in qualitative inquiry and mixed method studies.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute webinar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

LEARN MORE

Photo by SDubi/iStock

Sign up for our newsletter to get updates on our events.

This webinar is hosted by the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University. The research was funded by the Summit Foundation and the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), a program of TREC and one of seven U.S. Department of Transportation national university transportation centers. The NITC program is a Portland State-led partnership with the University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Utah and new partners University of Arizona and University of Texas at Arlington. We pursue our theme — improving mobility of people and goods to build strong communities — through research, education and technology transfer.

Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online or in-person at 11:30 AM. All presentations are recorded and shared on the event page afterwards.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• Slides
• PDH Certificate
• TREC Twitter thread

THE TOPIC 

This project investigated strategies towards development, marketing and implementation of employer programs for reducing single occupancy vehicles to mitigate traffic congestion. It was guided by the following research questions: which socio-economic factors influence carpooling; how do environmental factors influence carpooling; and what are effective traffic management strategies for enhancing carpooling. The presentation will also strive to introduce the US context for purposes of perspective.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• To understand the context of rideshare issues in developing countries (Kenya).
• To gain a comparative perspective between US and Kenyan context of rideshare practices.
• To appreciate challenges and opportunities of rideshare programs in general.

SPEAKER

Francis Wambalaba, Professor of Economics, United States International University; Nairobi, Kenya

Francis Wambalaba is a professor of economics at United States International University (USIU) in Nairobi, Kenya. He has over 30 years of career experience in the United States and Kenya, inclusive of: Senior Transportation Planner at Tri-Met; Senior Research Associate at the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) at the University of South Florida; and Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at United States International University, in Kenya. He managed the CUTR professional development program and coordinated the Florida State Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Certificate Program; managed the national TDM clearinghouse serving transportation professionals across the United States, Canada, Europe and elsewhere; managed several grant-funded transportation research projects; and was responsible for developing Transportation Business Districts and Transportation Management Associations in Portland Oregon and Tampa Bay, Florida. Dr. Wambalaba has a strong interdisciplinary background in rural and urban economic development including a double major BSc in Economics and BA in Business Administration (1983), an MSc in Economics (1985); a Certificate in International Business Studies (1985); Master’s in Urban Studies (1989), and a PhD in Urban Studies (1993). He is a certified planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP - 1999); and certificates in Transit Operations Planning from MIT (1994), and Public-Private Partnerships from Institute for PPP in Washington DC (2005).

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute seminar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We can provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Effective March 19, 2022, Portland State University no longer requires that masks be worn in classrooms, offices, and most other public and private indoor spaces.
As PSU shifts into the next phase of the response to COVID-19, we understand that some in our community may feel more comfortable continuing to wear a mask. That is a personal decision that we wholeheartedly support. We ask that our community respect the choice of people who keep their masks on, but to refrain from asking others to wear a mask. Disposable masks will continue to be available at PSU building entrances.

Sign up for our newsletter to receive monthly updates.

Photo by Tomás Guardia Bencomo/iStock

The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University is home to the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and other transportation programs. TREC produces research and tools for transportation decision makers, develops K-12 curriculum to expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engages students and professionals through education.

Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online at 11:30 AM. All presentations are recorded and shared on the event page afterwards.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• Slides
• PDH Certificate

THE TOPIC 

For many workers, the decision to drive to work is an economically rational one that minimizes their commute costs. The vast majority of employers offer free workplace parking, with few in comparison offering benefits for transit, walking, biking, or other means of commuting. In effect, employers are incentivizing a behavior that increases roadway congestion, reduces physical activity, and increases emissions. Moreover, since lower-income households are less likely to own and have access to a private vehicle than moderate and higher-income households, free parking is a financial benefit that many lower-income employees cannot access.

Researchers from ICF and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) examined the city-level impacts of parking cash-out. Parking cash-out is a commuter benefits option where employers that provide free or subsidized parking at work also offer employees the option to take an equivalent cash payment, tax-free transit/vanpool benefit, or combination of cash payment and tax-free benefit instead of the parking subsidy. This webinar will present results from a study of five core parking cash-out scenarios applied across a sample of nine cities. The analysis shows substantial potential for reductions in VMT, congestion, emissions, and crashes. Further, the ordinances reflected in some scenarios offer benefits to a greater number of employees, or for a greater number of modes, compared to others. Differences in these offerings have additional implications for equity, which is critical to consider alongside transportation impacts. 

The work is relevant for city-level policymakers, practitioners, transportation planners, and researchers looking for effective strategies to curb VMT and emissions with safety and equity at top of mind. The topic is also timely, given the recent legislation (H.R. 8555) proposed by House Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-District 3) that would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to stipulate that a parking benefit is not a qualified parking fringe benefit unless an employer offers employees the option to receive an equivalent cash benefit or alternative tax-exempt benefit in lieu of the parking benefit.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

The audience will walk away with:

• Enhanced knowledge about various parking cash-out and commuter benefits strategies to incentivize non-SOV driving
• The magnitude of VMT, congestion, emissions, and crash reduction potential that parking cash-out and related commuter benefits policies can bring to cities
• An understanding of how parking cash-out and related commuter benefits policies can be equity-enhancing compared to subsidized parking

SPEAKERS

Gabby Abou-Zeid, Transportation Data Specialist, ICF

Gabby Abou-Zeid is a Transportation Data Specialist at ICF, supporting local, state, and federal clients in areas of transportation demand management (TDM), transportation systems management and operations (TSMO), public transportation investments, transportation and land use intersections (especially related to parking), and sustainable mobility. She is a PSU alum (M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, Transportation Emphasis, 2021) and currently resides in Tucson, AZ, where her transportation research journey began while researching walkability.

Allen Greenberg, Senior Policy Analyst, Federal Highway Administration

Allen Greenberg has analyzed and advocated for sustainable U.S transportation policy from both inside and outside of government for over 25 years.  As a senior policy analyst at the Federal Highway Administration, Allen cultivates, develops, and manages transportation demand and pricing pilot initiatives and research, including projects related to parking cruising, pricing, management, and policy.  Allen holds a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning and a B.S. in Public Policy and Management. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute seminar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We can provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

Cover Photo by Brian Brown/iStock

Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is home to the U.S. DOT funded National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), PORTAL, BikePed Portal and other transportation grants and programs. We produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education and participation in research.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• Slides
• PDH Certificate

OVERVIEW

Equity requirements in shared micromobility programs have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, but our understanding of the scope and breadth of these requirements has been relatively limited. To address this gap in understanding, we collected documentation about 239 shared micromobility programs from the U.S. and have compiled all the data into an online, interactive dashboard. In this webinar, we will discuss the kinds of equity requirements that are most prevalent, the strategies cities/agencies employ to operationalize equity, and the extent to which these programs are monitored and evaluated. We’ll present findings from our review of 239 U.S. programs, supplemented by five case studies.

In addition, we’ll introduce attendees to two practitioner-focused tools we created to accompany this work:

1) US Micromobility Equity Requirements Dashboard and

2) Shared Micromobility Equity Evaluation Tool

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this webinar, attendees will:

• Understand the prevalence and types of equity requirements currently in place across 239 US e-scooter and bikeshare programs;
• Identify additional data needs for practice to move from assessing access to measuring outcomes;
• Access two practice-oriented tools for evaluating equity in existing shared micromobility programs and identifying requirements across different cities, city sizes, and modes.

THE RESEARCH

This webinar is based on a study funded by the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) and conducted at the University of Oregon. Read more about the research: New Tools Can Operationalize Equity in 239 E-Scooter and Bike Share Programs Across the U.S.

SPEAKERS

Anne Brown, University of Oregon

Anne Brown is an Assistant Professor in the School of Planning, Public Policy, and Management at the University of Oregon. She researches issues of transportation equity, shared mobility, and travel behavior.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute webinar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

LEARN MORE

Photo by Evgenia Parajanian/iStock

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This webinar is hosted by the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University. The research was funded by the Summit Foundation and the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), a program of TREC and one of seven U.S. Department of Transportation national university transportation centers. The NITC program is a Portland State-led partnership with the University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Utah and new partners University of Arizona and University of Texas at Arlington. We pursue our theme — improving mobility of people and goods to build strong communities — through research, education and technology transfer.

Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online or in-person at 11:30 AM. All presentations are recorded and shared on the event page afterwards.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

• Video
• Slides
• PDH Certificate

THE TOPIC 

Container cargo shipping service returned to the Port of Portland in Oregon in January 2020 with the regular weekly SM Line service, following more than three years of no container shipping service. Following the global supply chain changes associated with COVID-19, the number of monthly vessel calls at the Port of Portland’s deep-water berth at Terminal 6 has increased regularly to 12 vessel calls in January of 2022. In March of 2022, the largest containership to transit the Columbia river – at 1,100 feet length with capacity of 8,200 containers – arrived at the Port of Portland.

The return of container cargo service to the Port of Portland has expanded the effective capacity of international freight movement to and from the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Early indications are that the Port of Portland T6 container service has the potential to significantly contribute to regional economic growth in the Pacific Northwest region. In 2021, the Port of Portland updated its long-term container cargo forecast, which currently shows a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9% in the reference case scenario and 3.9% CAGR in the high growth scenario.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Connection to the economies of the Pacific Northwest
• COVID-19 impacts to an aspect of economic activity in the Pacific Northwest
• Employment, housing and population growth and change
• Regional modeling, forecasting and impact analysis
• International trade and supply chain disruptions

SPEAKER

Lewison Lem, Transportation Planning, Port of Portland

Lewis Lem received his Ph.D. in Transportation Planning from UCLA, with a focus on Transportation Economics and Finance.  He has previously worked as a Transportation Economist with the United States Government Accountability Office (USGAO), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the American Automobile Association (AAA) of Northern California, Nevada, and Utah.  For many years, he worked as a consultant in transportation planning and economics, including at Parsons Brinkerhoff, which is now part of WSP. Lewis currently works at the Port of Portland in Portland, Oregon, where he is responsible for managing and administering transportation planning programs and federal and state infrastructure grants for the Port’s multimodal transportation business units in Marine, Aviation, Industrial Lands, and Navigation.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute seminar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We can provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

Photo courtesy of Port of Portland

Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is home to the U.S. DOT funded National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), PORTAL, BikePed Portal and other transportation grants and programs. We produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education and participation in research.