PORTAL is the Portland, OR - Vancouver, WA regional transportation data lake project with terabytes of vehicle, transit, bicycle and pedestrian data. Since its inception in 2003, and initial data collection in 2004, it has grown to include data from multiple state and regional agencies. Moving forward, our goal is to engage with community representatives and organizations. The tentative role of the advisory committee is to advise and recommend enhancements to PORTAL. For example, are there data we should be collecting and making publicly available? Are there data that would help inform equitable implementation of transportation projects? Are there barriers to data and data literacy that prevent community organizations from utilizing these data? What would improve communicating what the data indicates and broaden the listening to how people receive new information? We ask that committee members are able to commit to quarterly meetings. If you are interested in learning more, follow the link below.
Navigating Transit With Low Vision: PSU Works With TriMet To Improve Wayfinding
For people who are blind or have low vision, navigating public transportation can be a daunting challenge. PSU is partnering with TriMet to make it easier. "Human Wayfinding" is a new collaborative research project funded by TriMet, aimed at helping the agency improve the travel experience for transit riders with low vision. Amy Parker, coordinator of the Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Program in PSU's Special Education Department, is leading the research. Students studying to be O&M professionals will work with TriMet to provide specialized support to low-vision travelers, using best practices developed by the blind and Deafblind community. "If more people who are blind can get to where they are going, then that means everyone has a better shot at navigating. The signage, the markings, the clarity—for everyone it will become a smoother and more equitable process," Parker said.
Registration is Open for IBPI Workshop: Comprehensive Bikeway Design
Aug 25–29, 2025
Our 2025 bikeway design workshop, presented through the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), will be held this August. Over the years, Portland has implemented numerous innovative bicycle facilities and treatments. Daily field tours provide first-hand experience with these facilities and projects discussed in the classroom. The tours showcase not just the operational qualities but also how bikeway planning affects community livability and economic development. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to make low-risk investments in proven bicycle plans and facilities; select the appropriate bicycle facility design based on urban form, traffic conditions and multimodal context; list the different ways that a bicycle facility can meet or not meet the needs of people who bike, and much, much more. Rent a bike or bring your own, and meet up on the streets of Portland this summer!
When Driving Is Not An Option: Steering Away From Car Dependency with Anna Zivarts
Wednesday, April 30, 5:30 PM Pacific
We’re pleased to host author Anna Zivarts at PSU for the 2025 Ann Niles Active Transportation Lecture. Anna created the #WeekWithoutDriving challenge and is passionate about bringing the voices of nondrivers to the planning and policy-making tables. She is also the author of When Driving Is Not an Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency (Island Press, 2024). One third of people living in the United States do not have a driver's license. The majority of involuntary nondrivers are disabled, lower income, unhoused, formerly incarcerated, undocumented immigrants, kids, young people, and the elderly. They are also largely invisible due to a mobility system designed almost exclusively for drivers. When Driving is Not an Option shines a light on the reality for non-drivers and explains how improving our transportation system with nondrivers in mind will create a better quality of life for everyone.
OPB's Stop Requested Live at PSU: Lessons and Opportunities for Rural Transit
Thursday, May 8, 5:30 PM Pacific
Public transit is not just for cities. It’s an essential lifeline for people in rural communities. For OPB's 'Stop Requested' series, Lillian Karabaic spent 14 days riding 38 buses to some of Oregon’s most remote places and talking to riders and drivers. If you’re used to 20-minute headways being frequent service, how about a bus that only runs once a week? What lessons can we learn from rural transit about meeting riders where they are and getting creative with service? What challenges are unique to transit in rural areas, and which ones are shared by agencies of any size? Join OPB’s Lillian Karabaic, producer of the series "Stop Requested," and PSU’s Evan Howington for a conversation about the joys and challenges of rural transit.
Save The Date: Summer Transportation Camp for Oregon High Schoolers at PSU
Early August
Hosted at Portland State University, our week-long summer camp is free and open to any Oregon student entering the 9–12 grade. We anticipate that the camp will be held during the first week of August this year. If you'd like to be notified as soon as applications open for summer 2025, fill out the form below and we'll reach out to you!
The camp offers an immersive introduction to transportation careers and the workings of transportation systems in Portland. Students will hear from guest speakers, develop data collection and STEM skills, and go on daily field trips.
SAVE THE DATE: PacTrans Conference:The 2025 Conference of the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium (PacTrans) Region 10 will be held at Portland State University – Mark your calendar for a full-day gathering on October 10!
Be a Transportation Ambassador: PBOT is looking for volunteers to support transportation fairs, bike rides, community outreach, and more. Apply by tomorrow - April 18.
Greater Oregon ITE Conference: The Oregon Chapter of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITS) Conference will take place in Bend, OR on May 16th, 2025.
Safe Streets and Roads for All: Funding is available for communities to develop plans and implement strategies to improve roadway safety. Applications are due June 26, 2025.
Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is a multidisciplinary hub for all things transportation. We are home to the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), the data programs PORTAL and BikePed Portal, the Better Block PSU program, and PSU's membership in PacTrans, the Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium. Our continuing goal is to produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education, seminars, and participation in research.
Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC), Portland State University, 1900 SW 4th Ave, Suite 175, Portland, OR 97201
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