Developing Data Fusion Techniques: PSU Makes Progress Toward Applying Machine Learning Methods to Estimate Bike Counts

Over the past several years, in a series of research projects, researchers at Portland State University (PSU) have been developing a new approach to estimate active transportation volumes using machine learning. This emerging method, which can predict how many people will be biking or walking on any given road, trail or segment of a transportation network at any time, offers promising applications for transportation agencies and state departments of transportation (DOTs). These organizations can use accurate bicycle and pedestrian volume information to track changes over time, prioritize projects, plan and design new infrastructure, conduct safety analyses and estimate public health impacts. "These methods are still evolving, and it's still in the research phase. But I think the time is not far off when we will start using these methods as more mainstream," said Sirisha Kothuri of the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, the lead researcher on this series of projects.

The Bike Bus Project: Research Explores Active Transportation to School

The Bike Bus movement is gaining momentum. All over the country, rain or shine, groups of children are hopping on bikes to ride to school together with adult supervision. Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $1.1 million federal grant awarded to Metro to boost walking school bus and bike bus programs in north Portland. The benefits go beyond physical activity: It's an opportunity for kids and parents to socialize, have fun, start the day on a positive note, and save time on driving, parking, and waiting in school dropoff lines. According to PSU researchers, bike buses could be the missing puzzle piece required to complete a robust active transportation to school approach. A new report published by Evan Howington, John MacArthur, and Nathan McNeil suggests that bike buses have the potential to leverage the last 20 years of Safe Routes To School interventions, ensuring that the miles of bike lanes, sidewalks, and crosswalks funded by districts, communities, states, and the federal government have their full value realized.

Request for Community Clients: Experiential Learning for PSU Students

PSU is seeking proposals from a range of clients (including public agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations) for applied planning projects. In January–June 2025, graduate students in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program will work in teams to develop plans on behalf of selected clients. Past MURP workshop projects have created strategies to improve safety for houseless pedestrians, increase access to natural areas, fill out active transportation networks and enhance disaster resiliency for the Portland region. In 2024, a MURP team was honored with an award from the National Council of University Transportation Centers for their project, Nixyáawii Watikš, which planned a multi-use trail in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Learn more about the MURP workshops, or explore past transportation-focused MURP projects. Proposals from community clients are due on Friday, December 6th, 2024.

Computer Science Capstone: Community Sponsors are also wanted for PSU computer science undergraduate students. Have a great idea? Need somebody to create some new software? Then consider becoming a Capstone Sponsor and get a sharp group of PSU seniors working on your goals. Proposals from sponsors are due January 10, 2025.

PSU Transportation Seminar: EV Charging at Multifamily Properties: Moving Beyond Barriers

Friday, November 22, 11:30 AM Pacific

Transportation is the top contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in the US and light-duty vehicles are the #1 contributor to transportation emissions. Mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is key in the fight toward a more sustainable future, but there are several factors that have delayed our transition to EVs. EV charging at home is the most convenient and cost-effective charging option for EV drivers, but people living in multifamily housing face serious barriers to accessing home charging. Whit Jamieson, Anna Guida, and Connor Herman of Forth Mobility will explore why EV charging at multifamily housing is critical to mass adoption of EVs, barriers to charging access at multifamily developments, and potential solutions. Among the solutions discussed, the speakers will delve into Forth's experiences with carshare located at affordable housing developments.

PSU Transportation Seminar: Piloting a Zero-Emission Delivery Zone in Downtown Portland

Friday, December 6, 11:30 AM Pacific

In Fall 2023, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) was awarded a nearly $2 million Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant by the US Department of Transportation to pilot the country’s first regulated Zero-Emission Delivery Zone in downtown Portland and test digital infrastructure tools. The pilot project also tests a variety of partnerships and incentives to accelerate the movement of "clean goods." In this seminar, PBOT's Art Pearce, Sarah Pullman & Jacob Sherman will share communities’ responses to zero-emission delivery and the benefits of expanding transportation decarbonization solutions. They'll also describe existing approaches to curb management in a dense urban environment, including how data provides new insights into innovative City strategies; and how the City is looking ahead to remove barriers to access for industry who have sustainability commitments but face operational challenges.

IBPI Study Abroad: Sustainable Transportation in Denmark

June 21–July 5, 2025

The Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI) presents an introduction to sustainable transportation and land use applications in the context of Denmark through a two-week study abroad program in summer 2025. The course offers an immersive experience to explore European approaches to cycling, transit, innovative mobility, and land use. The curriculum features material that provides a comparison between the U.S. and Denmark in terms of problems, priorities, and solutions, and daily field excursions offer firsthand experience of Denmark's bikeways, pedestrian infrastructure, and public transit systems. A final design project gives students the opportunity to apply lessons learned overseas to specific challenges in a U.S. context. This program is open to college juniors/seniors, graduate students from any university, and professionals. Capacity is limited to 15 participants, so apply early!

TRANSPORTATION UPDATES

• PSU STEM Exploration Day: PSU's first STEM-centered recruitment event for area high school students; a collaboration between the Maseeh College of Engineering, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the OHSU/PSU School of Public Health. Mon, Nov 25.
• WTS Portland December Luncheon: Kelly Martin, ODOT Project Manager, will speak at the next WTS luncheon about the OR217 Auxiliary Lanes Project. Wed, Dec 4.
• APA 2024 Hybrid Legal Issues Workshop: Join APA Oregon for sessions on housing, land division, & a legislative/policy update. Fri, Dec 6.
• ITE Electric Vehicles Luncheon: Join the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Oregon chapter for a lunch & learn about efforts toward electrifying Oregon. Tues, Dec 10.
• Bike And Walking School Buses Win Big With Federal Grant For North Portland: Read BikePortland's coverage of the $1.1 million federal grant awarded to Metro.
• 2024 Sunday Parkways Annual Report: PBOT released a report on the 2024 Sunday Parkways season, which welcomed an estimated 50,000 participants across three open street events in East Portland, Northeast Cully, and Southwest Multnomah.

Transportation Research and Education Center, PSU

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.