InfoHive – Transportation

What is happening? Bellvue Washington is adding a 5 second advance for pedestrians at crosswalks before traffic will receive a green light. The city is also adding LIDAR at certain intersections to gather data on vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, to strengthen the efficacy of its adaptive traffic signals

Why is this important? The head start for pedestrians at lights is shown to make pedestrians more visible and produced a 42% reduction in vehicle-pedestrian close calls

How will this be important? The city’s data and analytics are publicly accessible on this dashboard.

Route Fifty | City Turns to Traffic Safety Technology to Curb Pedestrian Accidents

What is happening?  Bloomberg Philanthropies studied traffic patters at 17 pavement art installations. Total vehicle crashes fell by 17%. Vehicle crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists fell by 50%. 38% decrease in pedestrians crossing against the walk signal.

Why is this important? The pavement art reduced crashes while overall in the US 17% more pedestrians have been killed by a vehicle in the first half of 2021 compared to 2020.

How will this be important? it’s working. “a new intersection in Kansas City, Missouri that received an Asphalt Arts Initiative grant reduced overall vehicle speeds by 45%, shortened pedestrian crossing distances by 50%, and reduced noise levels by 10 to 12 decibels”

Route Fifty | On Streets With Pavement Art, Study Finds Drop in Crashes

What is happening? North Carolina leaders are supporting a proposed commuter rail that would connect Johnston, Wake and Durham counties (the North Carolina Triangle)

Why is this important? Supporters say the commuter train will be built within 1 mile of 350,000 jobs, and will take cars off the road reducing road congestion.

How will this be important? The reasons supporting commuter rail in North Carolina can be applied across the country.

Governing | Commuter Rail in Research Triangle Could Cut Traffic Problem

What is happening? Companies are slowly rolling out drone delivery to actual customers in locations from San Francisco to NW Arkansas to the DFW Metroplex.

Why is this important? We’re moving beyond pilot tests to actual delivery that companies sy is cleaner for the environment, reduces traffic congestion and reduces delivery costs.

How will this be important? Its open season on drone delivery regulations. Texans, let’s not forget the legal quandaries about the current drone statutes.

WSJ | Amazon, Alphabet and Others Are Quietly Rolling Out Drone Delivery Across America

Dallas Morning News | Futuristic drone deliveries arrive this week in Little Elm and Frisco

What’s happening? Ride share Uber, is expanding its App in the UK to be the hub of all travel.

Why is this important? Uber App in the UK seeks “to become a one-stop shop for end-to-end travel by adding intercity rail, coach and flight tickets”

How will this be important? Ride Share isn’t just ride share anymore. Need to follow this pivot into other services.

Future Travel Experience | Uber to add planes, trains and rental cars as part of super app strategy

NYPost | Uber is adding planes, trains, hotels and rental cars in ‘super app’ push

What is happening? JB Hunt announced a carbon credit purchase program.

Why is this important? Shippers will be given the amount of credits that they can purchase to offset carbon use.

How will this be important? The credits will be used to fund reforestation, regenerative agriculture, and clean power generation.

Transport Dive | JB Hunt launches program for shippers to offset transportation emissions

What is happening? Port of Houston announced a net-zero GHG footprint by 2050.

Why is this important? It’s Houston, TX where politicians talk about divesting from entities that talk about this stuff.

How will this be important? 27 initiatives including partnerships to:

•  install smart lighting at its facilities
• improve gate efficiencies
• improve navigation efficiencies
• create 800 acres of new wildlife habitat
• ventually eliminating dockside emissions
• transitioning trucks to low or no emissions vehicles
• helping green shipping corridors
• green marine and road fuels

Port Technology | Port Houston outlines plan to become net-zero

What is happening? During an interview with Reuters, it became known that JetBlue CEO prefers fast and reliable train service over planes.

Why is this important? Anyone who has used trains knows trains are m ore reliable for city center to city center transportation.

How will this be important? This piece includes links to articles that discuss rail travel not being supported by oil and gas interests because rail, high speed rail, does not rely on fossil fuels.

StreetsBlog CAL | Commentary: Even Airline Exec Prefers High-Speed Rail

What’s happening? This November California voters could vote on the Clean Cars and Clean Air Act that will fund both EV infrastructure and wildfire prevention.

Why is this important? The revenue source would be a 1.75%  increase in taxes on individuals or couples making more than $2 million per year. Generating $4 billion. This isn’t new. IN 2004, CA passed a 1% increase on similar taxpayers to fund mental health care.

How will this be important? The revenue would fund:

• 45% would fund rebates and other incentives for new zero-emission and electric vehicle purchases
• 35% for EV charging stations and half of that would go to low-income communities
• 20% on wildfire prevention and suppression programs with priority given to hiring and training firefighters

NBC Bay Area | Proponents of Clean Cars and Clean Air Act Target November Ballot

What is happening? CALTRANS is using state and federal funds for sustainable project grants. The purpose of the grants is for resilience, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and meet state climate goals.

Why is this important? Sustainable transportation grants are for things like transit, bike, pedestrian,  multimodal station access, and electric vehicles.

How will this be important? The grants are also encouraging adaptable and expandable projects instead of planning fixed transportation projects that can’t adapt or grow.

Streets Blog Cal | Caltrans Announces Sustainable Transportation Grants