Newsletters
Below are highlights from a few of our most recent newsletters, as well as headlines from other sources covering University of Minnesota transportation-related research, education, and outreach activities. Each of our newsletters has its own archive, under CTS Publications.
Middle schoolers prepare for transportation-themed robotics competition on campus
More than 250 young science enthusiasts from across Minnesota converged on the University of Minnesota campus October 15 for a morning of educational workshops and tours of research facilities. The event, hosted by the Institute of Technology, CTS, and educational nonprofit organization High Tech Kids, was planned to help the students prepare for "Smart Move," the 2009 FIRST LEGO League robotics competition.
U of M, Mn/DOT develop new snowplow
KSTP - TV, October 14, 2009
A smart new snowplow under development by the University of Minnesota and Mn/DOT may make roads safer while using less salt, which saves money and in turn helps the environment. U of M mechanical engineering professor Rajesh Rajamani, the developer of the plow, says the plow's sensor technology allows for a more targeted attack on snow and ice.
Rural Roads Are More Dangerous Than They Look
New York Times - Wheels Blog, October 9, 2009
With foliage season about to start and the Columbus Day weekend here, many people will be heading to the country and driving on back roads... "While most travel occurs in urban areas, there are more fatalities in rural areas," said Thomas A. Horan, research director at the University of Minnesota's Center for Excellence in Rural Safety.
More motorists die on rural roads
USA TODAY, October 6, 2009
Lee Munnich, director of the Center for Excellence in Rural Safety at the University of Minnesota, is quoted on how many more traffic fatalities (56% in 2008) happen in rural rather than urban roads.
Drivers and their toys: Unsafe at any speed?
Star Tribune, September 30, 2009
Federal officials, transportation experts, and academics are convening in Washington, D.C., for a first-ever summit on how to combat distracted driving.... "This is not a new topic," said Michael Manser, who's attending the Washington summit in his role as director of the HumanFIRST program at the U's Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute.
CTS brings transportation innovations to the Minnesota State Fair
CTS and the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Institute participated in the 2009 Minnesota State Fair on Sept. 4 with a booth featuring the latest transportation innovations. In addition, Star Tribune "Roadguy" blogger Jim Foti hosted four rounds of "Transportation Jeopardy" as fairgoers competed for prizes.
CTS Seminar Series begins September 10
The CTS Seminar Series begins September 10 with a seminar about privacy law for intelligent transportation systems (ITS), followed a week later with a two-hour seminar about the Value Capture for Transportation Finance Study. The seminars, which run weekly through early December, also will be broadcast live on the Web and available for later viewing.
VMT Tax Data System Is Technologically Feasible, University Study Finds
AASHTO Journal, August 28, 2009
A system drawing heavily on existing technology could be implemented in the near future to determine the distance traveled by a vehicle and use that information as the basis for charging a fee that reflects road use.
Technology Enabling Near-Term Nationwide Implementation of Distance-Based Road User Fees
TRB Transportation Research E-Newsletter, August 25, 2009
The Intelligent Transportation Systems Institute at the University of Minnesota has released a report that examines a system that directly determines the distance traveled by a vehicle and uses this as a basis for charging a fee that reflects road use.
Shrinking gas tax pot has state looking elsewhere
Pioneer Press, August 11, 2009
With driving on the decline and more fuel-efficient cars hitting the roads, our generations-long dependence on gasoline taxes to pay for roads, bridges and transit is, well, running out of gas... In 2008, the Legislature asked University of Minnesota researchers if there were a way to tap into property taxes.
Chairman Oberstar previews policy plans for transportation, economic stimulus
U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar discussed key transportation policy issues that will shape the next six-year federal transportation funding bill during an August 5 visit to the University of Minnesota. The event was hosted by the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and co-sponsored by the Humphrey Institute's State and Local Policy Program and CTS. Current transportation funding expires September 30 and Congress is now wrestling with its successor, which Oberstar, chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, says is critical to economic recovery.
'Gridlock Buster' gives kids a chance to play traffic manager
The ITS Institute and Web Courseworks have developed a new traffic control online game for high school students that lets them try their hand at working in the engineering and transportation field.
Play "Gridlock Buster"
Listen to WCCO Radio interview about the game (July 20, 2009)
Minnesota magazine, Fall 2009
Watch Video
Near-term approach to VMT charging
Surface Transportation Innovations, July 16, 2009
What Max Donath and his engineering colleagues have proposed is an on-board unit that would plug directly into the vehicle data bus that has been standard on all vehicles sold in the United States since 1996.
Existing vehicle data bus, cellphone SMS proposed for near-term VMT charge
TollRoadsNews, July 10, 2009
Institute researchers have proposed a plug-in device and system for measuring miles traveled by a vehicle, and using it as a basis for charging fees that reflects road use.