TREC research addresses complex transportation problems by drawing on multiple disciplines, including engineering, planning, economics and design, from across the Portland State University campus. Use the search box at right to search for a specific project.
NOTE: If you're looking for projects from our partner campuses, use the NITC research search.
Research Highlights
Evaluation of Different Curb Extension Treatments for Pedestrian Comfort and Safety at Intersections
Nathan McNeil
Sirisha Kothuri
In a project funded by the The District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Portland State University is partnering with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to document and identify factors associated with road user safety and comfort at intersections with permanent versus tactical (both with and without mural art) curb extensions, as well as a set of control locations with no curb extensions. DDOT has over the last few years installed several curb extension treatments on differe...
Read More
Exploring the positive utility of travel and mode choice
Patrick Singleton
Traditionally, travel is considered a disutility to be minimized, and travel demand is derived from activity demand. Recently, scholars have questioned these axioms, noting that some people may like to travel, use travel time productively, find other benefits in traveling, or travel for non-utilitarian reasons. These are instances of “the positive utility of travel” (PUT). In this dissertation, I conceptually and empirically investigate PUT, its determinants, and its impacts on travel behavio...
Read More