Researchers from the University of Delawares Institute for Public
Administration (IPA) presented research outcomes at the 96th annual
meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) held Jan. 9-10 in
Washington, D.C.
Intermodal facilities presentation
IPA policy scientists Marcia Scott and Christopher Kelly,
who received a master of public administration (MPA) degree in 2014,
presented at a session on Data and Technology for Rural and Intercity
Decision Making. The presentation highlighted findings of a paper
selected for inclusion in the TRBs compendium of papers titled
Research of Viable Attributes and Potential to Integrate Curbside
Intercity Buses in Intermodal Transportation Facilities. The paper was
co-authored by Scott, Kelly, Eileen Collins, who received an MPA in 2013, IPA Director Jerome R. Lewis, and Ardeshir Faghri, professor, and Mingxi Li, research associate, both of UDs Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. It may be downloaded from UD Space.
The research paper provides a synopsis of a more in-depth report,
co-authored by Scott, Kelly and Collins and published in November 2013
on Intermodal Transportation Facilities: Research of Viable Attributes
and Potential to Integrate Curbside Intercity Buses. The research
highlighted benefits of successful intermodal transportation facilities
that support and enhance transit usage, promote seamless transfers among
modes, provide clear access to transportation networks, maximize
transportation options, and create efficiencies of shared costs and
transportation infrastructure. In addition to transportation benefits,
the report explored the potential for intermodal facilities to serve as
centers of revitalization and hubs of economic, commercial, and
mixed-used development activity.
While barriers to intermodalism exist, report findings suggest that
development and investment in intermodal transportation facilities
which serve as a hub for all modes of transportation, including curbside
intercity buses will promote a more integrated and sustainable
transportation system.
Public involvement poster presentation
Scott and public administration fellow Savannah Edwards, an
MPA student, presented a poster at a session on Current Issues in
Transportation Public Involvement. The poster was
among the 25 selected for presentation by the TRB Committee on Public
Involvement. Titled GIS Story Maps Empower and Engage Stakeholders in
Planning for Complete Communities in Delaware, the poster was designed
by IPA policy specialist Sarah Pragg. It summarizes research,
funded by the Mid-Atlantic Transportation Sustainability University
Transportation Center (MATS UTC), that explores the use of GIS Story
Maps to satisfy mandates for increased transparency, accountability and
public engagement in planning for transportation-efficient and
sustainable places. IPA developed a series of GIS Story Maps to
illustrate Delaware's complete communities planning framework that is
designed to build capacity of local governments to create attractive,
inclusive, efficient, healthy and resilient places. Each conveys one of
the five elements of a complete community. IPA's GIS Story Map Gallery
can be viewed online.
The annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board is a showcase
for innovative thought-leadership and research in the transportation
industry. Attended by over 12,000 world-wide transportation
professionals, the meeting features more than 5,000 presentations in
nearly 800 sessions on a range of transportation-related topics. It
provides a forum for the exchange of ideas between practitioners,
researchers, and policy-makers, and advances sound transportation
industry practices and future research and future practice.
Of the nearly 5,800 papers submitted, approximately half are
presented at the annual meeting, and about 20 percent are published in
the Journal of the Transportation Research Board. UD researchers
have actively conducted research and contributed to the body of
knowledge around transportation issues, which is helping to inform
policy, engineering best practices, and infrastructure investment
decision.
Originally published in UDaily on January 30, 2016. Article by UDaily staff.
