News from mineta transportation institute A wide array of domestic and global news stories; news topics include politics/government, business, technology, religion, sports/entertainment, science/nature, and health/lifestyle.

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Nov 10, 2015, 03:07 ET Which costs more for drivers - a fuel tax or a road user charge?

With government agencies addressing the funding shortfall for U.S. highways, they are considering various means to raise revenue. Two of those are a...

Oct 26, 2015, 10:00 ET International Podcar City Conference Returns to Silicon Valley

The Ninth Annual International Podcar City Conference is set for Wednesday-Friday, November 4-6, at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. ...

Oct 20, 2015, 11:21 ET Dynamic Ridesharing Services Can Make A Big Environmental Impact

Can greenhouse gases be reduced by promoting ridesharing services and battery electric vehicles? Could they sufficiently reduce vehicle miles...

Sep 30, 2015, 01:36 ET How does access to cars or transit influence one's economic outcomes?

How does access to particular types of transportation influence individuals' economic outcomes? And do typical "snapshot" approaches to research...

Sep 08, 2015, 12:52 ET How does neighborhood crime influence the way we access transit?

How does neighborhood crime influence the way riders access various transit modes – or if they will ride transit at all? In a third-phase report,...

Aug 26, 2015, 12:11 ET The High-Speed Rail Attack in France: What are the security challenges for protecting rail systems?

In light of the recently prevented attack on a high-speed train in France, many people are asking if security should be re-evaluated. Does the...

Aug 26, 2015, 11:27 ET Research Results Show Promise for Advanced Bus Design

To help broaden the practical uses for transit buses in rural and small urban areas, a research team from the Mineta National Transit Research...

Aug 18, 2015, 11:19 ET How to Develop Bus-Stop Time Models in Dense Urban Areas

A new model for bus transit reliability can help operators improve planning and scheduling in urban areas. This study defines a new reliability...

Jul 28, 2015, 12:37 ET How to Have Intermodal Connectivity at US High-Speed Rail Stations

What key elements can help the US high-speed rail (HSR) system blend successfully with existing rail and transit services? That question is...

Jul 07, 2015, 12:18 ET Mineta Report: Benefit-Cost Ratios of US Transit Systems Are Compiled and Evaluated

Transit advocates, planners, and policy makers can now find a collected resource of benefit-cost ratio estimates for US transit systems. A new white...

Jul 01, 2015, 10:02 ET Mineta Transportation Institute Bestows Distinctive Honors at Its Annual Banquet

Several distinctive honors were given at a celebration that attracted transportation luminaries from across the nation. The Mineta Transportation...

Jun 25, 2015, 12:27 ET New Report: Will Americans support higher gas taxes? Yes--under certain conditions

Common wisdom holds that Americans do not support increased taxes at the gas pump. However, a just-released Mineta Transportation Institute research...

Jun 16, 2015, 01:06 ET Jim Beall, California State Senator and Chair of Senate Transportation and Housing Committee, to address challenges of transportation infrastructure funding at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club, Friday, June 26

California State Senator Jim Beall will deliver the keynote address at the Norman Y. Mineta Transportation Finance Policy Summit at the Commonwealth...

Jun 09, 2015, 04:53 ET Which passenger survey modes are most effective for larger transit agencies?

New research from the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) provides insight about the most effective passenger survey methods for larger transit...

May 26, 2015, 01:48 ET Mineta Research: How underground urban rail systems can manage pedestrian traffic in increasingly crowded stations

How can urban rail systems manage pedestrian traffic in increasingly crowded stations? This is especially problematic in subway systems, where spaces ...

May 20, 2015, 01:26 ET New Mineta research says transit operators and managers may directly control bus ridership increases

Mechanisms to increase transit ridership are in the hands of transit authorities. In general, they should not have to depend on outside factors to be ...

May 19, 2015, 01:00 ET Regional Transit Governance Seminar Revealed Several Challenges, Opportunities for Coordination Among Various Operators

A video is now available from a regional transit governance seminar held at the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on Tuesday, March 31....

May 12, 2015, 04:08 ET Free research report examines travel behavior before and after LA Metro introduces new light-rail line

Los Angeles is pursuing possibly the most ambitious rail transit investment program in the US by creating the Expo Line. A new peer-reviewed research ...

May 04, 2015, 01:48 ET US High-Speed Rail Can Learn from Japan's Successful Earthquake Early Warning System

As California and other states move forward with high-speed rail plans, some have questioned the system's ability to withstand earthquakes. This is...

Apr 29, 2015, 03:33 ET Survey: Americans support higher gas taxes, spending revenue on public transit

Americans are willing to pay increased taxes at the gas pump if the revenue is invested in specific transportation improvements, according to the...

Apr 28, 2015, 02:49 ET Regional transit agencies can improve chances for public support on project proposals and funding

How do regional transit agencies improve their chances for public support when it comes to project proposals and funding? A new peer-reviewed study...

Apr 16, 2015, 05:28 ET Are Rail Operators Responsible for Preventing Train Suicides?

Although less common than people think, it's always shocking when someone commits "suicide by train." Do these suicides have predictable patterns?...

Apr 06, 2015, 01:31 ET New research on lithium titanate oxide batteries can help transit engineers design better energy storage systems

Electrical energy storage, rather than fuel combustion, has become a key component in transit fleets that are switching to more efficient hybrid and...

Mar 25, 2015, 03:36 ET Troubling Trends Emerge in Terrorism and Attacks on Surface Transportation

Security experts at the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) are seeing some clearly worrisome trends in terrorism. For example, over the past...

Mar 05, 2015, 04:54 ET Regional Transit Governance Seminar in San Francisco Will Focus on Bay Area - Tuesday, March 31

Transportation experts, transit operators, and public officials will present and discuss the findings of two new reports: Getting to the Route of It: ...